Month: 2026-04

(AsiaGameHub) - Soft2Bet founder and CEO Uri Poliavich has announced that the firm has begun 2026 with significant momentum, driven by the launch of new brands, fresh sponsorships, and robust performance in international markets. Image: Soft2Bet Speaking to employees, partners, and industry journalists during a Q1 town hall, Poliavich compared the company’s progress to Formula One, stating that the groundwork laid in the first quarter will help them navigate the challenges ahead this year. “Ayrton Senna was one of the most remarkable figures in Formula One history,” he noted. “He would walk the track before every race to identify every potential opportunity. We adopted the same strategy in Q1, preparing ourselves for Q2 and the remainder of the year.” New Brand Launches from Soft2Bet The first quarter was a highly active period for Soft2Bet, which introduced five new brands to its portfolio. Focusing on regions where it has previously seen success, the company launched these new brands in Denmark, Romania, and Sweden. In Sweden, the Viking-themed brand Lodur—utilizing Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification technology—was introduced, with Poliavich noting encouraging early data. In Denmark, the company strengthened its presence in one of Europe’s most established markets by launching three brands: Betinia, Bet Toro, and Quick Casino. Additionally, Soft2Bet debuted Zinx in Romania, a new platform for sports betting and casino gaming that features a cartoon-style character. Leading Market Performances Although Poliavich did not provide exact financial data, he identified the top-performing regions. Four markets occupied the top three positions in the company's global rankings. Denmark secured the third spot, supported by brand awareness campaigns through CampoBet and Betinia’s sponsorships of national football leagues. Tied for third were Greece and Sweden—both recognized as major European markets, despite the regulatory complexities found in the Swedish landscape. In what the founder described as a "surprising" result, Mexico emerged as Soft2Bet’s highest-performing market during the first quarter. “We entered the Mexican market with thorough preparation, which is why it exceeded our internal projections this quarter,” he remarked. Expanded Sponsorship Portfolio Alongside the brand launches, Soft2Bet finalized four new sponsorship deals in Q1 to increase brand visibility among new audiences. In addition to the Danish football league partnerships for Betinia and CampoBet, the company gained traction in Canada through deals with Rock League Curling and the Oshawa FireWolves. Furthermore, the company extended its partnership with FC Cluj in Romania for another season. Poliavich commented: “We value their competitive spirit and dedication. Despite not being from Romania's largest city, the results from Cluj are impressive. We aim to adopt their values and integrate them into our player experience.” Future Outlook Despite the strong start, Poliavich emphasized that Soft2Bet remains focused on growth. The company anticipates a 20% increase in GGR for the next quarter, with cost-saving measures expected to drive a 29% rise in EBITDA. The company is also looking forward to the World Cup this summer, which will be held in the US, Mexico, and Canada—three territories where Soft2Bet maintains a significant presence. To align with the tournament, the firm has introduced MEGA 11, a football management gamification tool, and MEGA Shoot, a player-versus-player tournament mechanic designed for the World Cup period. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Following a new study that reveals some UK gamblers either don’t fully understand the terms of certain welcome bonuses or directly view them as “deceptive,” one of the study’s co-authors tells SBC News his thoughts on how to make bonuses more aligned with consumer expectations. Jamie Torrance is a psychology lecturer and researcher at Swansea University. He has conducted extensive research on problem gambling; his other work includes studies on public perceptions of gambling in the British Army, how family dynamics shape gambling behaviors, and the delivery of gambling advertising, among other topics. It’s fair to say he’s an authoritative voice in the field of gambling studies. In Torrance’s op-ed for The Conversation, it was highlighted that many respondents in his latest research either saw bonus incentives as “manipulative” or consistently miscalculated the compounded amounts involved. This was sure to draw attention—so SBC News sought to dig deeper into the underlying issues. The study’s premise is straightforward: survey 585 participants who gambled in the past year and present them with a realistic welcome bonus modeled after actual promotions from online gambling platforms. As the research describes it: “Welcome bonus: get 150% up to £150 on your first deposit”. Half the participants viewed the offer in a standard industry format, starting with a £50 deposit for the bonus. The other half saw the same promotion but with a clear note that an additional £750 must be wagered before any winnings can be withdrawn—exactly how a 10x wagering requirement applies to a £50 deposit. “More than 90% of participants underestimated the true cost,” Torrance wrote for The Conversation. “Only around 5% got it right.” “The £500 figure is telling. It is exactly what you would get if you applied the 10-times multiplier to the £50 deposit but ignored the 150% bonus on top. Most people understood part of the calculation but missed the compounding effect.” Clarifying bonus practices When SBC News reached out to understand why this misconception is so widespread, Torrance concluded that the wording of current offers isn’t intuitively understandable. “I think it comes down to the structure of the offers themselves rather than any deficit on the part of bettors. The headline figures (the deposit match and the multiplier) are easy to read, but the interaction between them requires a multi-step calculation that most people don’t intuitively perform. People are grasping part of the offer and missing the compounding effect, and the standard format doesn’t help them bridge that gap. There’s also a motivational element at sign-up: someone keen to start playing is not in the ideal headspace to interrogate terms and conditions.” Until recently, this gap was even wider. Before January, operators could set these multipliers as high as 50 times the bonus amount. However, the Gambling Commission capped them at 10x—a direct result of the Gambling Act Review White Paper, which called for simpler and more transparent promotions. Torrance continued: “There has been real progress [with the White Paper], particularly on the structural side (financial risk checks, online slot stake limits, the statutory levy), and the work on direct marketing and cross-selling is welcome. On bonuses specifically, the January 2026 cap on wagering requirements at 10 times is a meaningful step in the right direction.” However, Torrance notes that capped multipliers are a separate issue from making costs visible to consumers, and more needs to be done in that area. “Our data suggest that even under the new rules, consumers are still significantly misjudging what these offers require of them.” Bonuses have received increased attention lately, especially during and after the Gambling Act review. A key measure from the review’s April 2023 White Paper was a ban on cross-selling bonuses between betting, gaming, and lottery platforms. Still, some feel more can be done to improve bonus practices. An interesting idea Torrance raised in our interview was hypothetical “age-differentiated incentives,” which treat users aged 18–24 differently from older players. Drawing on psychology, he argued that this younger age group is still at a stage where impulsivity, peer influence, and price sensitivity converge—and welcome bonuses could act as an entry point into sustained gambling. “Several jurisdictions, including Australia, Spain, Belgium and Italy, have gone as far as banning inducements to new customers outright, which gives a sense of the range of options on the table internationally. “An age-differentiated approach to inducements is something I think deserves serious consideration, and it’s an area I’m actively researching.” Torrance concluded the interview by putting forward a proposal to the Gambling Commission, which he believes would lead to better-informed players in the future. “I want to be fair here, because the Commission has done substantial work on consumer protection in recent years and the wagering cap itself is a good example of that. The refinement I’d point to is at the point of disclosure. Requiring operators to display a short worked example, in the same prominence as the headline offer, showing what the wagering requirement actually means (or its ’true cost’) would be a welcome change.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Recent research indicates that the overwhelming majority of Polymarket users are unprofitable. Blockchain analyst Andrey Sergeenkov reports that 84.1% of traders are currently operating at a loss. The study examined approximately 2.5 million wallet addresses by leveraging Polygon blockchain data through Dune Analytics. It discovered that merely 2% of users have ever generated more than $1,000 on the platform, and only 0.033%—about 840 wallets—have earned in excess of $100,000. The research challenges the idea that consumers can secure a steady income via prediction markets. The likelihood of any user consistently making $5,000 per month is less than 1%. Of the top earners—6,600 users with an average monthly profit of $5,000 or higher—only 2.6% stayed active for over a year. Per the report, many users execute trades right before exiting the platform, which leads to a decline in their average profitability over time. A separate 2025 analysis of 124 million trades found that roughly 70% are not profitable. This research came out as Polymarket keeps expanding, as shown by its recent collaboration with Major League Baseball and its standing among the world’s largest prediction market platforms. Token Terminal data reveals that $9.8 billion in trades were conducted on Polymarket over a 30-day span—making it the second most-traded prediction market after Kalshi. Polymarket has also rolled out multiple new features, including some with referral programs to draw in users, and Sergeenkov cautioned about possible losses for average retail traders, partly due to insufficient user education. The broader prediction market industry has seen rapid, explosive growth, with trading volumes rising sharply between 2024 and 2025. This expansion has attracted greater regulatory scrutiny than ever before, particularly in the U.S., where various agencies are exploring how to classify and oversee these markets. Polymarket has also launched a new in-house stablecoin, Polymarket USD, as part of a larger infrastructure update. Although its crowd-sourced forecasting model is frequently lauded for its accuracy, the data underscores a striking gap between market predictions and the results individual traders achieve. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - GG.BET is fully confident that its latest feature will help the brand distinguish itself in the fiercely competitive esports betting market, a company representative told SBC News. The Kyiv-based esports betting technology firm unveiled Popular Bets yesterday, a dedicated section on its website that displays pre-built bets based on trending matches and markets. Betters using the platform can select their preferred combination, which is then automatically added to their betslip. The company believes the feature will help users make faster decisions by seeing which selections are most popular among other platform users. “Popular Bets was created to genuinely improve the betting experience for a broad range of audiences,” GG.BET’s spokesperson told SBC News. “For newer users, this feature removes the barrier of having to independently analyse markets and build bets from scratch — something that can feel challenging on a platform with such a wide selection of sports and esports events as GG.BET. “For more experienced users, it offers a convenient way to quickly place bets on popular matches without having to complete the full manual selection process. “In both cases, the recommendation algorithm guarantees that the suggested combinations reflect real activity taking place on the platform. This means users see relevant, up-to-date options based on actual popularity rather than random or template-generated selections.” GG.BET is an esports-focused betting platform, operating in the rapidly growing, highly competitive space alongside a number of other companies — though it also offers full betting solutions for traditional sports. The global esports sector has exploded in value over recent years, and esports betting has grown right alongside it. Various industry studies have placed the global value of the esports betting space in the billions, for example, a 2026 report from ResearchAndMarkets.com estimates the value will fall somewhere between $2.8bn-$3bn. Like other emerging betting markets, esports has drawn inspiration from more established traditional sectors, such as football. The most notable example of this is the adoption of bet builders, a feature offered by providers including GG.BET. Bet builders can now be used on esports titles like League of Legends or Valorant in exactly the same way they are used on traditional competitions like the Premier League or LALIGA. “Popular Bets and Bet Builder address different but complementary user needs,” GG.BET’s spokesperson added. “Bet Builder is designed for users who want full control — the ability to combine multiple markets within a single match and build fully customised bets. “In contrast, Popular Bets is built for speed and discovery: users receive ready-made combinations for popular matches that can be added to the bet slip in just one click. “For example, a user may use Popular Bets to quickly join an event and then move on to Bet Builder for deeper customisation of a specific match. In this way, the two tools together accommodate both impulsive and more deliberate betting styles.” The global growth of esports has captured widespread industry attention, and with attention comes increased competition. Esports betting is offered by nearly every major operator, although some B2C firms that have focused solely on esports, or kept it as their lead product, like Rivalary and Esports Entertainment Group (EEG), have run into difficulties over the years. Nonetheless, the sector is expected to keep growing, and this growth will continue to attract new B2B activity. GG.BET competes in the space alongside a number of other B2B industry leaders, but this competition has not weakened the company’s confidence. “GG.BET’s positioning is unique because the platform combines traditional sports betting and esports at an equally high level — not as an afterthought add-on, but as a core part of the product. “Popular Bets reflects this approach by generating combinations based on popular markets across both traditional sports and esports. The recommendation algorithm is based on real user behaviour, so the feature continuously evolves according to audience interests rather than remaining static. “Together with the previously launched Bet Builder, which is also available for both sports and esports, GG.BET is building an ecosystem of features that fits different user interaction scenarios with the product. This is what, in our view, sets the platform apart in a competitive market.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Gibraltar's gambling regulator has responded to increasing criticism regarding the swift licensing of ADI Predictstreet, maintaining that the procedure was correctly managed and comprehensively assessed. Gambling Commissioner Andrew Lyman verified that he endorsed the approval prior to the public announcement of the company's FIFA partnership, with Minister Nigel Feetham providing the final authorization after due diligence. Both officials dismissed the negative reaction, labeling the reporting as "sensationalist." The timing of the licence grant has been a specific focus, given that it was issued just one day before Predictstreet publicized its FIFA collaboration. Although Feetham characterized the decision as a chance to stimulate Gibraltar's economy, detractors have challenged both the rapidity of the process and the histories of people associated with the firm. Scrutiny has been heightened by recent media accounts. The Norwegian publication Josimar referred to Predictstreet's executives as a "cast of controversial characters," noting that licensing in places such as Malta or the Isle of Man often requires several months. The report also mentioned appointments of individuals with prior regulatory or legal connections, voicing unease even in the absence of formal misconduct rulings against them. Lyman upheld the regulator's judgement, emphasizing that the licence was issued after a complete due diligence review and his official advice. He acknowledged the schedule was fast-tracked because of the approaching FIFA World Cup but asserted that this did not equate to compromised standards. “Speed does not mean lack of scrutiny,” he stated, clarifying that the application received “focused scrutiny” from start to finish. He further clarified that the licence was first approved under Gibraltar's 2005 regulatory system before being moved to the modernized 2025 framework. In countering the criticism, Lyman contended that the unfavorable press is motivated by a desire for dramatic headlines over factual depth, reaffirming that regulatory choices need to find a balance between fostering opportunity and maintaining oversight. Gambling Commissioner Andrew Lyman, said: We cannot generate the economy by being overly risk averse and spending months reflecting on business models that are the future. Being too risk averse means business looks elsewhere and doesn’t comeback as the business model grows in another jurisdiction. Minister Feetham supported this position, affirming that while prediction markets are a contentious industry, Gibraltar needs to remain receptive to innovation to stay competitive. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - bet365 has ceased allowing credit card deposits in the U.S., mirroring a broader industry trend as regulators impose stricter consumer protection rules for sports betting. Per the operator, consumers will no longer be permitted to use credit cards to fund their accounts, though alternative payment methods (debit cards and Apple Pay) remain available as long as they are not linked to any credit line. Against the backdrop of growing focus on gambling-related financial risks, bet365’s decision aligns with actions taken by other major industry players—DraftKings and FanDuel—who already have similar restrictions in place. Many gamblers are frustrated by the excessive charges and interest fees credit card companies apply to gambling-related transactions. Across the U.S., numerous states are either considering an outright ban on consumers using credit cards for gambling or taking a wait-and-see approach (“waiting for the dust to settle”). In a February letter to operators, Elizabeth Warren expressed her displeasure with these practices, calling the exorbitant fees from credit card companies on gambling transactions “abusive” and stating that many such transactions are designed to—and ultimately do—take money from American citizens. While bet365’s decision may help strengthen its market position (as many operators target Massachusetts, where credit card deposits are currently illegal), the company was initially barred from re-entering the Massachusetts market following the state’s 2023 legalization of sports wagering. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has since reopened its licensing process in response to bet365’s request, potentially paving the way for its entry. Commission Chair Jordan Maynard welcomed the renewed interest, stating: That does hearten me, that people still want to enter the legal market in Massachusetts… So I have to say I respect that. Operators like FanDuel have also highlighted the benefits of aligning payment rules across states, noting that consistent policies can reduce friction for users moving between jurisdictions. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - SPRIBE has obtained an interim injunction in Brazil in a legal dispute with Betnacional concerning the rights to its Aviator game, creating an early benchmark for intellectual property protection within the nation's newly regulated iGaming sector. The Court of Justice of Pernambuco (TJPE) issued the order against NSX Brasil S.A., which operates Betnacional, mandating the immediate cessation of using the “AVIATOR” trademark and any comparable visual or audiovisual components associated with SPRIBE’s product. The decision imposes daily penalties for any failure to comply and will stay in effect pending further court rulings or a final judgment. The court cited SPRIBE’s trademark registration with Brazil's INPI as the foundation for its exclusive rights. The dispute between Betnacional and SPRIBE began when Betnacional launched an Aviator game in 2025 through a new supplier, after having a partnership with SPRIBE since 2022. SPRIBE alleges that this new game is a "close copy" of its original 2018 crash game and constitutes an infringement of its intellectual property. Betnacional, powered by Flutter Entertainment and functioning as a subsidiary of NSX Brasil, is one of the major operators in Brazil's regulated gaming market. The operator continues to report robust performance with crash-style games. This lawsuit is being watched closely across the gaming industry and highlights growing tensions over exclusivity agreements between operators and suppliers, alongside ownership disputes concerning game content. The case demonstrates to both game developers and operators the importance of incorporating strong IP protections into supplier contracts and shows that IP enforcement for developers in emerging markets such as Brazil is growing more effective. The injunction awarded to SPRIBE is a provisional measure until further legal proceedings occur, but the final outcome of the case could set a precedent for other similar disputes as Brazil's regulated gaming framework continues to evolve. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - SBC Summit Americas has partnered with BettingStartups to boost its support for early-stage businesses, with a distinct focus on helping founders connect with investors and pushing fresh ideas to the forefront of the Americas market. As part of this strategic collaboration, BettingStartups will assume the role of the official host of the Startup Zone at SBC Summit Americas 2026. The space will feature 13 exhibition booths and a dedicated lounge, granting startups a prominent presence on the show floor and direct access to key decision-makers—51% of last year’s attendees held budgetary responsibility. Recognized as a key player in the early-stage gaming ecosystem, BettingStartups has built a reputation for supporting founders through its media platform, podcast, newsletter, events, and investment arm. By leveraging this network, the partnership will bring a curated group of high-quality startups to the event, giving attendees the chance to discover and engage with the next wave of innovation shaping the industry. A central highlight of the Startup Zone programming will be the First Pitch Americas Competition, taking place on Thursday, 11 June (14:00 – 14:40) on the Leaders Stage. Hosted by BettingStartups founder Jesse Learmonth, the competition will feature five standout startups pitching live to a panel of leading investors and executives. Participants will compete for a grand prize package valued at $108,900, designed to accelerate their growth and industry visibility. The prize includes a 3x3m exhibition booth at SBC Summit Americas 2027, alongside additional contributions from Are You Watching This?!, MetaBet, AWS, GameOn, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC, Square in the Air, and Vegas Kings. The judging panel consists of: Paris Smith, Founder and CEO, Defy the Odds Javier Altamirano, Global Head of Startup, Sportradar Evan Meyer, Managing Partner, Astralus Capital Management Scott Secord, Partner, Cardinal Sports Capital Meredith McPherson, CEO and Managing Partner, DRIVE by DraftKings Applications for the First Pitch Competition are currently open, with a submission deadline of 17 April, and selected participants will be notified by 4 May. The 2025 edition saw B2B social sports betting software provider Wager Games take home the top prize. Complementing the competition, attendees will also benefit from dedicated educational content, including the “Fundraising 101: Win Your First Round” workshop, taking place on Thursday, 11 June (11:00-12:00). Led by Shaun Gold, Chief Evangelist at OpenVC, the session will provide founders with a practical, no-nonsense roadmap to securing early-stage investment. The partnership is designed to position SBC Summit Americas as a must-attend event for startups, investors, and operators active in the region. By combining SBC’s global reach with BettingStartups’ specialized ecosystem, the collaboration aims to attract high-potential companies, generate pre-event momentum, and deliver unique, startup-focused content. Through curated participation, targeted marketing campaigns, and dedicated programming, BettingStartups will also support delegate growth, with a goal of driving significant new registrations from its engaged community. Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said: “This partnership strengthens our commitment to innovation and to supporting the next generation of companies shaping the future of gaming in the Americas. BettingStartups brings a highly engaged community and deep understanding of the startup ecosystem, which will elevate both the quality of exhibitors and the overall experience for attendees.” Jesse Learmonth, Founder of BettingStartups, added: “SBC Summit Americas is a key meeting point for the industry in the region, and we’re excited to play a central role in building out its startup offering. Our focus is on bringing the most exciting early-stage companies to the event and giving founders a platform to be seen, heard, and funded.” About SBC Summit AmericasSBC Summit Americas is a leading industry event bringing together key stakeholders from across the North and Latin American gaming and sports betting markets. Taking place from June 9-11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, the event continues to evolve its offering with a strong focus on business outcomes. This year, SBC introduces the SBC Connections networking program, featuring eight new ways for attendees to connect, alongside a new five-tier ticketing system designed to give participants greater control over their experience based on their business priorities. Startups and industry professionals are invited to secure their place at SBC Summit Americas 2026. Get tickets Inquire about exhibiting in the Startup Zone Apply for the First Pitch Competition This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued a further setback to Malta's efforts to defend its gambling legislation and licenses against challenges from other EU nations. A preliminary ruling from the ECJ was released today concerning the conflict between German regulators and the Malta-based operations of Lottoland and Maltese officials. The ECJ found that European Union law does not stop member states from prohibiting online services offered by operators from other member states. This judgment supports Germany's prohibition on online slot machines and lottery betting, affirming that players retain the right to seek compensation for losses from companies operating without a license or in violation of EU law. The ruling addresses a protracted legal conflict between Maltese and German judicial bodies over the operations of companies based and licensed in Malta within other EU jurisdictions. Initial disputes involved Malta challenging German court decisions, arguing that licenses issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) adhered to the principles of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Invoking TFEU provisions for "unrestricted services," MGA licensees believed they could legally offer iGaming services, especially while Germany's federal states and government remained deadlocked over terms for a new Interstate Gambling Regime. After over ten years of arbitration and regulatory stalemate, Germany's federal states implemented the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüNeuRStV), which took effect on 1 July 2021, establishing a finalized framework to regulate and license online gambling. DACH drama The EU legal battles primarily involve two Malta-licensed firms active in Germany and one in Austria during the late 2010s and early 2020s. While the ECJ has previously offered opinions, this marks its first preliminary ruling—an authoritative interpretation of EU law. The two companies in question regarding Germany are Tipico and Lottoland. The former was challenged by a former customer seeking to reclaim losses sustained between 2013 and 2020. Tipico operated without a German license during that period, though it had applied for and later obtained one following the market's re-regulation in 2021. In Lottoland's instance, a customer sought to recover losses from 2019 to 2021. The ECJ's preliminary ruling directly concerns the Lottoland case, but its implications will undoubtedly influence ongoing litigation involving Tipico and Virtual Services Digital Limited—the latter being the company embroiled in Austrian legal proceedings. The court explicitly ruled that Article 56A of the TFEU "must be interpreted as not precluding national legislation which imposes a prohibition on the organisation of online casino games, in particular slot machines, and of forms of betting such as online betting on the results of lottery draws". In essence, the EU's highest court has declared Malta's primary legal defense concerning its licensed companies' activities to be invalid. Bill 55 at the bat? Malta has sought to protect its gambling sector through Bill 55, the common name for a 2023 amendment to its Gambling Act—specifically, Article 56A. Bill 55 empowers Maltese courts to dismiss foreign legal orders against Malta-based and licensed firms that are compliant with Maltese law, even if they violate the laws of other EU member states where they operate. Malta's position rests on the EU principles of freedom to provide services and freedom of establishment, grounded in Article 56 of the TFEU. Maltese courts contend that EU freedom of trade principles form the foundation of Bill 55 and justify the activities of its licensed gambling operators in countries such as Germany. Does this ECJ ruling signify the end of these disputes? It is highly improbable. The international legal clashes between Maltese and other EU courts are long-standing, and Bill 55 was specifically crafted to shield gaming businesses from foreign legal actions. The ECJ has now delivered two rulings in 2026 that reinforce the right of Member States like Germany and Austria to ban cross-border gambling services and impose civil liability for violations—further weakening the legal protection afforded by Malta's Bill 55. Gambling contributes approximately one-tenth of Malta's GDP, and the island faces emerging competition to its status as a global iGaming hub from locations like Estonia and the UAE. As an EU member, Malta can invoke 'public policy exceptions' under the EU’s Brussels I Recast Regulation. This regulation is based on the mutual recognition and enforcement of legal judgments. By citing this law, Malta argues that foreign court rulings which contradict its own regulatory framework should not be enforced within its territory, claiming this exception is relevant to its online gambling system. Malta insists that Bill 55 is a necessary protective measure to prevent its domestic courts from being inundated by a surge of related litigation stemming from online gambling disputes, many of which EU courts have delegated to third-party claims firms—a pattern evident in the current caseload. Therefore, Bill 5 effectively enshrines this stance into national legislation. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) - Leading sportsbook provider BETBY has announced a robust beginning to 2026, highlighted by a historic March, driven by expansion in both its sportsbook and esports division, Betby.Games. This 61% increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) year-on-year for the first quarter coincides with the Malta-based company's efforts to broaden its market presence and advance product innovation. Additionally, BETBY saw a 38% rise in its active player base, suggesting that its recent foray into specialized markets such as MMA, hockey, and the emerging sport of teqball is proving successful. The firm has recently expanded its operations in Latin America by naming Gonzalo Navarro to the position of Senior Business Development Manager. As previously mentioned, March achieved record-breaking results for the company, indicating strong momentum heading into a crucial season. This is especially true for football, with the conclusion of major European leagues and tournaments approaching, alongside the upcoming World Cup this summer. Betby.Games also showed strong performance in Q1 2026 compared to the prior year, recording a 42% increase in GGR and a 32% growth in active players. “It’s been a really solid start to the year for us,” stated Leonid Pertsovskiy, Chief Executive Officer of BETBY. “We’re seeing strong growth across both sportsbook and esports, and that comes down to the work we’ve put into the product and the trust our partners place in us. “What’s particularly encouraging is that this growth is consistent across key metrics, which shows the strength and stability of what we’re building. We’ll keep pushing in the same direction, focusing on delivering long-term value for our partners.” BETBY’s safe prediction market strategy This announcement arrives after the company ventured into the prediction market sector earlier this month with BETBY Predictions. However, this was not a hasty decision; the company has observed the controversies surrounding platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi. BETBY Predictions intends to avoid ‘highly sensitive or controversial topics,’ excluding events related to geopolitics, ongoing conflicts, wars, and any occurrences ‘involving human suffering’ from its platform. The impact of this expansion into prediction markets on the company's results remains to be seen, but BETBY aims aims to sustain this positive trajectory throughout the rest of FY26 and into the future. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.