It’s been an exciting week in the world of iGaming, and we at Nostrabet.com are here to provide you with the latest news. There’s always something going on, but some news is much more intriguing than others. The team and I have gone through everything, so let’s analyze some of the more essential things you need to know.
Brazil & Esports Betting
If you’ve been following the news in the iGaming world, you know that Brazil has been one of the hot topics for months now. The country legalized gambling and quickly became one of the preferred options for many iGaming operators. The regulations are strict, but companies that meet them can offer their services to local gamblers.
Alongside sports betting and casino products, the Brazilian Government also decided to expand its list of fixed-odds betting options by adding new esports and online games. The most recent update includes games like Fortnite, Valorant, and Counter-Strike.
The most recent publication from the responsible gambling authorities in this South American country confirmed their decision. Prior to this announcement, only games that the International Olympic Committee recognized were available for people to bet on.
It’s safe to say that this change will make sports betting even more popular in Brazil. The stats reveal that there are more than 100 operators in the country with a license. In terms of popularity, Brazilians spent close to $5.2B per month betting online, making the country one of the hottest markets out there.
Alongside the Esports regulations, Brazil’s Ministry of Finance also signed a partnership deal with Integrity Compliance 360. The goal is to focus on sports betting manipulation and prevent it from happening. The news reveals that the partnership will last for five years, so it will be interesting to see if it pays off.
The Foreign Gambling Activity in Norway is in Decline
The Norwegian Lottery Authority revealed a report showing a decline in foreign gambling activity in the country. The data also shows an increase in domestic gambling, which means that more people have started playing.
If you analyze the data, you will reveal that close to 2M people played using Norsk Tipping in 2024. For comparison, 2023 only had 1.8M people, which means that there is an increase in users.
Despite the growing popularity of iGaming in Norway, foreign operators are in decline. The data shows that their net turnover is 1.3B NOK instead of 1.6B NOK from 2023. Despite these numbers, it seems like foreign companies continue to have a strong (as much as 28%) market share, especially in online casinos.
The report from Norway’s lottery authority also shows that there is a growing issue in some people’s gaming patterns. The stats focus specifically on those aged 18-25 and warn that this could lead to issues in the future.
Novomatic Acquired All of Ainsworth’s Shares
Novomatic is one of the big iGaming companies that invests in many different companies around the world. Ainsworth is one of them, and Novomatic already has close to 53% of this company after purchasing it in 2016. It seems like things are going well because the most recent news reveals that Novomatic is about to get the remaining shares from Ainsworth.
This news came just days after it became clear that the Dutch gambling regulator would extend the company’s license for another 10 years. Novomatic is also among the few companies in the gambling space that have secured a license in the UAE, so it’s safe to say the brand is winning on multiple fronts.
Stake Introduced Stake Engine That Focuses on Game Developers
Stake is one of the most prominent names in online gambling. As of recently, the company was involved in several problems around the world, one of which even led to an exit from the UK market. Fortunately, today’s news about Stake is positive because the brand introduced something called Stake Engine.
This is a Remote Gaming Server that focuses on those who want to develop games. It comes with specific tools and the infrastructure that devs need to create some of the best games in the world.
According to the information, the Stake Engine will feature a special kind of business model that offers 10% GGR royalties. This amount will be paid every month, and there are no hidden fees behind it. The stats are jaw-droppiong because Stake Engine is designed to support more than 1M bets per second and 10B monthly wagers.
Malaysia’s Police Took Down Illegal Lottery Operations
Malaysia is not often under the radar in terms of gambling-related crimes, but the most recent news revealed that the police in Perak took down an illegal lottery syndicate. According to the information, the organization has been in operation since 2020 and operates across Ipoh.
The police raid resulted in several arrests and the confiscation of more than RM110,000 in cash. Alongside money, the police also found different phones, computers, lottery slips, and more.
Flutter’s Staff in the UK to Raise More Than $500K for Charity
Flutter is one of those companies in the iGaming space behind many of the big names that people like. Brands like Betfair and Paddy Power are among the first things that come to mind, and considering the websites’ popularity, it’s no surprise that Flutter has thousands of employees.
The company’s UK employees decided to come together and raise more than $500K for charity. This year’s goal is to help Pancreatic Cancer UK, and the idea came following the tragic loss of James Blackburn. The latter was a Sky Betting & Gaming employee who passed away in 2023.
Those who followed the staff’s charity initiatives over the years know that they’ve donated more than $500K last year to Cure Leukaemia. An interesting fact is that Flutter’s staff in other countries are also raising funds for charity. The employees in Dublin, for example, raised more than 700k EUR for the BUMBLEance.
Flutter is one of the biggest gambling companies in the world. It recently acquired Snai, an operator that focuses on the Italian gaming market.
City of Dreams Sri Lanka Casino Will Open in Late 2025
Many countries around the world are experiencing interesting changes in gambling regulations, and Sri Lanka is one of them. Following the debates, it became clear that the City of Dreams Sri Lanka casino will actually open in late 2025. The information comes from Lawrence Ho Yau Lung.
The resort itself will be worth close to $1B, and it will belong to Melco, a giant in the gambling space. Nowadays, this company has casinos in Cyprus and the Philippines, and it will also open the first big casino in Sri Lanka.
Kenya Banned Gambling Advertising for 1 Month
Kenya is one of Africa’s biggest markets for online gambling, where you can find many of the world’s leading websites. With that said, the country’s Betting Control and Licensing Board decided to enforce a 30-day ban on gambling advertising. The ban was in effect on April 29, and the reason behind it was the rapid rise of gambling activities in the country.
Additionally, it seems that some operators are not following the rules regarding the ads they make and can also target underage citizens. The interesting fact about this decision comes just days after it became clear that Kenya has a larger gambling market than Uganda and South Africa.
According to GamStop, 1% of UK Adults Use Self-Exclusion
In the last couple of years, Responsible Gambling has become a popular topic in many parts of the world, including the UK. Many third-party organizations, such as GamStop, aim to help clients who may have gambling problems. This site operates mainly in the UK, and after it released its annual report, it became clear that close to 1% of the UK’s population has used the self-exclusion option since it became available in 2018.
In terms of numbers, more than 560,000 individuals have registered with Gamstop. This number shocked some people, and it seems like GamStop’s staff were also surprised by it. Consequently, the company decided to announce a special five-year renewal exclusion that will be automatic.
Darts Player Gets 11-year Ban for Match Fixing
Match-fixing is one of the most common problems in sports nowadays, and it is present across all kinds of sports. Even though football and tennis are the “usual suspects”, the most recent news comes from darts.
Andy Jenkins, a popular darts player, received an 11-year ban from professional playing following a match-fixing scandal. According to the DRA Disciplinary Committee, Jenkins was involved in several match fixings between 2022 and 2023 and during the Modus Super Series.
Following the investigation, the DRA found Jenkins guilty of 24 charges. The player himself confessed to placing more than 88 bets on darts during that period and violating the DRA’s regulations.
After Jenkins was found guilty, the player received an 11-year ban from playing competitively and a $23K fine. The investigation did not suggest that any other players were involved, but we would not be surprised if this was the case.
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