The information from the iGaming sector this week is boiling hot. There are new sponsorship deals, licenses, arrests and lawsuits that could change the industry in some parts of the world. We at Nostrabet took the time to go through everything and it’s time to share the hottest news of the week.
Influencer from Indonesia Could Go to Jail for Gambling Promotions
Indonesia is definitely one of the countries that takes gambling seriously. The district court in Denpasar has had a case against Vienna Varella Parinussa, a local influencer that promoted illegal gambling. She used her social media platforms for it and the local prosecutors are now seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence, as well as a huge fine.
The influencer has 57K followers on Instagram and is also active on TikTok. According to the local authorities, she received between 100K IDR and 300K IDR per post promoting online gambling websites. These actions were in violation of the electronic transactions law, which prohibits making gambling content accessible online.
The Authorities in India Drafted New Online Gambling Rules Focusing on Esports
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India has decided to release draft rules targeting online gaming. It is still open for discussion and outlines provisions to encourage esports and social gaming.
One of the main ideas is to establish an Online Gaming Authority in the country, based in Delhi. It will be responsible for determining whether a given game qualifies as a money game, esports, or something else. This is a big move following the news that India will ban all forms of gambling, so it will be interesting to see what will happen.
Soft2Bet Launches Swiper in Romania
Romania becomes the latest country where Soft2Bet decided to launch Swiper. This will give Romanian players access to a popular swipe-based sportsbook and online casino. This is an intriguing product that enables users to browse various options using gestures similar to those found in social media applications.
Swiper will also feature different short-form video content designed to entertain customers. It features swipe navigation, sports betting, and casino games, as well as promotions that comply with Romanian regulations.
An interesting fact is that Swiper first became available in Sweden and was optimized for local clients.
London May Ban Gambling ads on Transport
There is an ongoing conversation in London regarding the need for local authorities to ban gambling ads on the Transport for London network. This was a hot topic before and it resurfaced again following the report from the Gambling Commission. Based on the stats, 50% of the people in London have gambled in the last 12 months and 37% have done it in the last 4 weeks.
If the authorities in London decide to do that, they will follow the example of Australia and several other places. We would want to remind you that the UK is one of the leading online gambling markets in the world, so any change (even the ban on gambling ads) can have an effect on it.
Evolution to Offer Crazy Time in Connecticut and Ezugi in the US
Evolution continues its expansion into the U.S. market by launching one of its most signature Live Casino Games (Crazy Time) in Connecticut. The game is actually streamed live from the software provider’s studio and allows players to win 10,000x their bet.
Crazy Time has been around since 2020 and is already successful in New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Evolution has been in the state since 2022, which was when it opened its studio. Considering the changes underway, we anticipate seeing even more games from the company in the next couple of years.
Alongside the introduction of their new game, Evolution also added Ezugi to the U.S. market. This will be the company’s second live dealer brand, and it will be available in New Jersey. The games that people will have access to will be streamed from Evolution’s studio located in Atlantic City. According to some rumours, Evolution will also try to introduce Ezugi to Michigan.
Kazakhstan to Add Biometric ID checks For Gambling
The Ministry of Tourism and Sport in Kazakhstan plans to introduce biometric identity verification for the country’s gambling industry. The goal of this initiative is to enhance social responsibility and transparency within the industry.
The partnership is with Biometric.Vision’s system, in conjunction with local authorities, enables the company to authenticate users in real-time using facial recognition and AI.
It is safe to say that many countries will be watching Kazakhstan closely to see how the situation unfolds. If it proves to be successful, other countries can also implement it in their fight against illegal gambling.
An interesting fact about Biometric.Vision (the company that will provide the service) is that it has previously partnered with the National Bank of Kazakhstan and provides ID verification and liveness detection services.
1xBet is the Official Betting Partner of the ATP Tour
Just a few days after it became clear that 1xBet partnered with Galaxsys, the online betting operator is in the news again. This time, 1xBet confirmed a partnership with the ATP Challenger Tour. In other words, it will sponsor the international tennis tournament series for men.
The sponsorship deal includes a total of 36 tournaments that will be held in Asia, Europe, North and South America. Based on the agreement, 1xBet can use the ATP Challenger Logo on its marketing activities and the brand’s logo will appear on the tournament courts. This is significant because it will make 1xBet visible to millions of people worldwide.
Keep in mind that 1xBet is available in over 70 languages and has numerous other sponsorship deals. The operator works with FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Serie A and many others. It also entered the eSports sector via partnerships with various teams and organizers, including the likes of ESL.
Meta & the FBI Helped the Police in Singapore Dismantle an Illegal Betting Syndicate
The police in Singapore recently dismantled an illegal betting syndicate after it got help from the FBI and Meta. Following the incident, local authorities arrested seven people and confiscated various items.
Based on the research, the people behind the operation lured suspects by “forcing” them to open gambling accounts on an offshore iGaming site. Most people received different winnings at first, but later were told to wager more and eventually lost substantial amounts.
The investigation resulted in four Singaporeans being charged for unlawful betting operations. If convicted, the individuals can face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of SGD 200,000.
The UAE Licensed Onetouch.io, Live88 and Hub88
OneTouch.io, Live88, and Hub88 are subsidiaries of the Two Yolo Group, and people who like them will be happy to know that they have obtained a license for the UAE. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority decided to grant licenses and will allow them to operate in the new legal gambling market.
The UAE is one of the most interesting gambling markets right now and the local regulator has already granted licenses to a lot of suppliers. Locals will also access products from IGT, Novomatic, Scientific Games, Pollard Banknote, and Light & Wonder. Following this news, Live88 becomes the first online live casino studio with a license in the UAE.
The UK Gambling Commission To Add new Deposit Limit Rules from June 30, 2026
The Gambling Commission in the UK said it will enforce new deposit limit rules. According to the news, operators have to allow players to set a limit on their deposits after a specific period of time. The idea here is to remind users that this feature is available
The new changes come in addition to some of the new measures that will be active after October 31. According to the information, operators will be promoting users to set financial limits every six months. Alongside that, companies will remind users to check their account and transaction history. Operators also have to introduce shortcuts to financial limits tools on their homepage.
The Malta Gaming Authority Introduced a Self-Assessment Tool
It’s no secret that the Malta Gaming Authority is one of the most respected institutions in iGaming. The regulator wants to maintain this image, so it introduced a new self-assessment tool. Its goal is to help individuals assess their gambling behaviour.
The self-assessment tool will consist of different questions that will help users reflect on their habits. If you wish to check them, you will find the questions in English and Maltese.
Betfair to Face a Landmark Appeal Following a £1.5M Gambling Losses Case
There’s an ongoing case in the Court of Appeal where Lee Gibson is attempting to recover nearly £1.5m in losses from Betfair. According to him, the gambling operator knew he had a gambling problem because he placed more than 30,000 football bets over the course of a decade. His account was eventually closed, but this occurred in 2019, and during that time, Betfair treated him as a VIP.
Despite the High Court’s dismissal of his original claim in 2024, Lee Gibson decided to appeal. According to his lawyer, Berfair’s VIP management arrangement had the responsibility to protect Gibson from excessive gambling. Whether this is actually true is yet to be seen.
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