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SOFTSWISS has prepared detailed analytics on the state of crypto gambling in 2021, and also presented forecasts for 2022.

Press release.- SOFTSWISS was the world’s first company to introduce a cryptocurrency-optimised solution for online casinos platforms in 2013. At the moment, the company holds the status of the iGaming industry leader in crypto gambling. The company shares statistics and reviews on the development of cryptocurrencies in the iGaming industry on a regular basis.

The data provided in the article is a part of the company’s detailed report on the state of cryptocurrencies in 2021. It presents the results of the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator and the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.

Crypto bets overview
The increase in the number of bets in cryptocurrencies throughout the year confirms the global trend that the position of cryptocurrencies has strengthened and that they are increasingly more popular among online casinos users. Сompared to January 2021 when the share of bets made in crypto was at 23 per cent, December of the same year shows that number almost doubled to 40.1 per cent. At the same time, the volume of bets in cryptocurrencies over the same period increased by more than 2 times, namely, by 259.21 per cent.

“Cryptocurrencies have long been not just a trend in the gambling industry, but an obvious stage in its evolution. With significant benefits related to transaction speed, as well as wide market boundaries, the use of cryptocurrencies opens up significant opportunities for both players and operators. This leads to their constant growth. Those industry representatives who won’t develop their business in this direction in the near future risk losing a competitive advantage in the “battle” for users. Our statistics clearly demonstrate this,” commented Andrey Starovoitov, COO at SOFTSWISS.

Crypto and fiat currencies
Despite the fact that fiat currencies are still the most preferred option for betting, crypto is gradually but steadily growing in its share. Over the year, the percentage of bets in fiat currencies decreased by 23.6 percentage points: from 88.2 per cent in 2020 to 64.6 per cent in 2021. In its turn, cryptocurrencies showed a growth of 20.1 percentage points.

“Cryptocurrencies have long ceased to be an attribute of IT geeks. This is a global phenomenon and its impact on the global economy cannot be denied. The iGaming market is adapting to a new reality in which cryptocurrencies will become as important (if not more important) than fiat in the next couple of years. Convenience, speed, and usability are their huge advantages. SOFTSWISS took into account all these factors and created an entire ecosystem for its clients, which, in part, is made possible by the Cryptoprocessing solution by CoinsPaid,” said Andrey Starovoitov, COO at SOFTSWISS.

Top cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin still occupies a leading position by a huge margin among altcoins: 80.11 per cent of all crypto bets are made using BTC. According to the share of all cryptocurrencies used, the list of the most popular coins is as follows:

Bitcoin (BTC) 80.11%
Ethereum (ETH) 9.88%
Litecoin (LTC) 4.52%
Download the full report to learn more.

At the same time, the share of Bitcoin by the end of 2021 decreased compared to the beginning of the year: from 83 per cent in Q1 to 72.32 per cent in Q4. This is related to the growing interest of users in such a cryptocurrency as Ethereum. Its share increased from 9 per cent in the first quarter to 14.12 per cent in the last quarter of 2021.

Top crypto providers in the iGaming market
Below is the list of providers actively working with crypto-based on the share of all crypto bets in 2021. According to the statistics, BGaming players most often used cryptocurrencies in games and ensured the share of bets in crypto at the level of 21.10 per cent of the total:

BGaming 21,10%
Platipus 13,53%
Evolution 13,47%
Booming 10,76%
Betsoft 7,08%
To find out more information about the most crypto-oriented games, successful providers within the framework of operating crypto-casinos, as well as statistics on crypto-currencies in the context of GGR, download the full report.

“Cryptocurrency allows casino and dice site operators to work with a young audience. In this regard, the SOFTSWISS Crypto Solution will become an indispensable tool that adapts classical operating models to modern requests. We have every reason to believe that the share of cryptocurrencies will continue to grow this year and, accordingly, will open up even more opportunities for iGaming representatives. In turn, we have experience, innovation and expertise to help both newbies and experienced players in the market to make the most of these opportunities,” summed up Andrey Starovoitov, COO at SOFTSWISS.

A bill legalising both in-person and online sportsbooks in Kentucky now heads to the Senate for consideration.

US.- The Kentucky House has narrowly approved a bill that would legalise in-person and mobile sports betting in the state. House Bill 606, sponsored by Rep. Adam Koenig, was approved in the 100-member House on Friday by a 58-30 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

All Democrats and a slim majority of Republicans supported the measure. Twelve House members did not vote.

HB 606 would allow Kentucky’s licensed horse tracks, including Churchill Downs and Keeneland, to partner with a mobile sports betting operator such as DraftKings, FanDuel, or Caesars.

Licensees would also be allowed to offer in-person sports betting at horse tracks and two other track-owned facilities – such as a gaming hall or simulcast facility — through sportsbooks licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC).

Koenig believes sports betting could generate $22m in tax revenue each year for Kentucky. Koenig cited estimates that more than $2bn is wagered illegally on sports each year in the state. Legislation would bring “activities that go on in every corner of this state out of the darkness and into the light,” he said.

If the bill is approved, bettors would be able to wager on professional, college, and amateur sports, with no prohibition on betting on in-state teams. Operators would pay a $500,000 initial application and licensing fee, followed by a $50,000 per year renewal fee.

The sports wagering measure is part of a broad package of gambling-related bills being considered by Kentucky lawmakers.

Delasport has gained certification to launch its products in the regulated Danish market.

Denmark.- Delasport has gained GLI certification in order to offer its online casino, player account management (PAM) and sports betting solutions in the regulated Danish market.

Delasport’s sportsbook offering covers betting for 125 sports, 70,000 pre-match and 40,000 monthly live events across 2,000 markets. It has a functionality stack with bet-builder, cash-out and partial cash-out, personal trader and quick bet suggestions.

Delasport chief executive Oren Cohen Shwartz said: “We are all happy to be entering the Danish market and demonstrating once again our commitment to our market’s availability strategy.

“Delasport’s existing partners can now expand into the Danish market, and we are already on track to gain additional new partners in Denmark. Danish players and bettors will soon be able to enjoy a higher-level of betting experience powered by our market-ready casino and sports betting solutions.”

Last month, the Danish gaming regulator Spillemyndigheden revealed it blocked a record number of unlicensed gambling websites in 2021. It also said that channelisation to the regulated sector had reached a record high.

Meanwhile, Danske Spil has reported full-year gross gaming revenue of DKK4.83bn (€650m) for 2021, a rise of 1.9 per cent from 2020. Lottery accounted for DKK2.79bn, an increase from DKK2.63bn in 2020. Danske Licens Spil’s sports betting and gaming products brought in DKK1.82bn.

The KSA has granted an 18th Dutch gambling licence, allowing 711 BV to offer online slots in the Netherlands.

Belgium’s 711 BV has become the latest online gambling operator to pick up a five-year Dutch licence from the Netherlands’ gambling regulator de Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).

Becoming the sixteenth online gambling licensee in the new Dutch online gambling market, 711 will offer online slots. It has not yet been confirmed what domain 711 will operate in the country.

Last week, Betca BV and Novamedia gained Dutch online gambling licences. They followed on the heels of Zebetting, which gained a licence last month. More licences are still expected in the next few weeks.

The Dutch online gambling market launched in October with only ten licensees. The KSA has since issued a further eight licences, with JOI Gaming having three.

Meanwhile, the KSA has revealed that more than 10,000 people have registered with the Netherlands’ gambling self-exclusion scheme, Cruks, since it went live. Cruks excludes players from gambling online, or at land-based slot machines and casinos, with exclusion periods starting at six months.

Players can sign up voluntarily but can also be registered by a relative or a gambling operator, pending approval by the KSA.

Spelinspektionen’s interim report on Sweden’s temporary Covid-19 online casino limits has suggested stricter limits “may be preferable” in the future.

The Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has published its interim report on the impact of the country’s temporary online casino restrictions which were imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. It found that the impact of the measures was impossible to determine but still said it would support their use in the future.

Sweden imposed a SEK 5,000 (€471) deposit limit and SEK 100 (€10) bonus limit from July 2020 until November last year. It also placed a limit on login time for online gaming. The measures were introduced due to fears that Sweden’s Covid-19 lockdown could cause an increase in problem gaming.

While Spelinspektionen initially criticised the measures as unworkable, it later said it would not oppose a reintroduction of limits in the wake of a rise in Covid-19 cases earlier this year. The plan to reintroduce online casino deposit limits was eventually abandoned, but now the regulator says it will support their use “in the event of future crisis”.

The regulator said the measures introduced in 2020 had strengths and weaknesses but that it was impossible to fully determine the impact they had made due to the fact that Sweden’s regulated online casino market only opened 18 months before they were introduced.

Stricter online casino limits “may be preferable”
However, Spelinspektionen said it believed that for many players the SEK 5,000 limit was too high, and that there were players who spent less than this amount but still gambled “in an unhealthy way”.

It suggested that if the need for limits arises in the future, stricter requirements “may be preferable”. When the government proposed reintroducing restrictions, it wanted to impose a lower limit of SEK 4,000.

While operators apposed the deposit cap from the outset, the regulator noted that surveys suggested the public was generally in favour of the measures. A “Games about money and health” survey of 4,178 people found that 60 per cent supported them. A Svenska Spel study found that 52 per cent of its customers agreed with the measures.

However, the regulator also recognised that a study by Stockholm University concluded that that there was no increase in either online gambling or problem gambling during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s government has approved proposals for new safer gambling and consumer protection measures, including new limits on advertising and measures against unlicensed operators.

Under the proposals, there will be mandatory licensing of third-party games and software providers that service Swedish licensed operators and online casino games will be moderated, with the riskiest being subject to enhanced measures to protect young and vulnerable audiences.

The 3rd Annual SPiCE India 2022 will take place from 23 – 25 March 2022 at Goa Marriott Resort & Spa in Goa.

Press release.- There is only one week remaining until the 3rd Annual SPiCE (Strategic Platform for iGaming Conference & Exhibition) India. The conference organized by Eventus International is going to take place at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa from 23 – 25 March 2022.

Following the successful first two editions, SPiCE India 2022 will focus on:

How companies can maximise their growth potential
Explore the innovations and progress made in the industry
Take stock of the rapidly changing regulatory landscape
Understand the challenges and opportunities in the industry
Yudi Soetjiptadi, Managing Director, Eventus International, says, “SPiCE is long overdue due to the restrictions the pandemic has brought forth over the last 2 years. However, now we are ready to come together once again. India is ready and opened its borders to the world, and the world is ready to reunite again in Goa. The wait is finally over, and it’s time to meet, talk shop and relax in the stunning location that is Goa, India.”

To add even more flavour to SPiCE India 2022, Eventus International introduces the following world class exhibitors:

Valueleaf
Valueleaf is a global parallel agency & affiliate network that helps leading brands across the globe grow their Real Money Gaming (RMG) businesses. It provides precise analytics and technology that ensures that clients have a hassle-free experience in creating and running performance marketing digital campaigns.

Whistle
Whistle is a global mobile marketing platform that helps marketers of Real Money Gaming (RMG) businesses execute targeted campaigns and optimize cost through in-depth learnings and analytics.

The mobile messaging service, available on Whistle’s smart portal, allows legally compliant RMG clients in India and abroad, to stimulate gaming interest among customers through promotions and deals. Through MarTech innovations, Whistle has made messaging marketing simple and accessible to all.

Income88
Income88 is a rapidly expanding affiliate program since its launch in 2015. Since then, Income88 has developed its network into a leading affiliate provider partnered with brands operating in Asia’s most robust markets like China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Income88 offers several benefits to its affiliates. Some of these include competitive commission plans with up to 50 per cent revenue share, no negative carry-over for the succeeding month, no minimum number of active players, and many more.

SA Gaming
SA Gaming is a leading online entertainment platform provider in Asia. Making use of state-of-the-art technology, it offers a full spectrum of Live Games including Baccarat and many more.

Every product is developed by professionals with diligence, and comes with trustworthy support services. SA Gaming’s products are very popular amongst players around the world. They are the winner of the “Asian Platform Provider of the Year” in Malta Gaming Awards and “Live Casino of the Year” at IGA 2020.

PaymentINR.com
PaymentINR.com is a payments and banking technology company that enables businesses in India to collect payments online and make payouts. It supports high volume transactions with instant settlement (T+0), Competitive MDRs and fast chargeback resolution for our clients.

With its user-friendly dashboard, people keep a track of their payments, or get 24×7 support agent to assist them with queries.

The Trinidad and Tobago Gambling Control Commission will monitor gambling activities in the Caribbean nation.

Trinidad and Tobago.- Finance minister Colm Imbert has announced the launch a new regulator, the Gambling Control Commission (GCC), to govern and monitor gambling activities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Stephan Tang Nian, a senior government banking and anti-money laundering (AML) advisor, will chair the regulator’s board of directors.

The GCC is expected to carry out major gambling reforms in the dual-island nation, and particularly to address social concerns over a “proliferation of private member clubs providing casino-style games.”

Its creation was mandated by the approval of the country’s Gambling Control Bill last year. The bill requires the commission create a framework to improve the protection of minors and launch a fund for problem gambling rehabilitation.

It reads: “It is expected that the commission will establish a licensing framework which will aid in minimising the potential for money laundering and terrorist financing due to the stringent criteria that will have to be met in order to obtain a licence to work in the gaming and betting sectors.

“It is recognised that these sectors have the potential to contribute meaningfully and positively to the national economy, if regulated effectively, by creating employment, not only in the sector but in other downstream sectors, thereby creating greater tax revenues.”

Tech and cyber-securities expert Steven Thomas, the managing director at local supplier Prodigy Software, will serve as the commission’s deputy chairman. Both Tang Nian and Thomas will serve four-year terms. The other board members comprise experts in business, gambling, AML, IT and law.

The KSA has issued another two online gaming licences, taking the number of licensees in the Netherlands to 15.

The Netherlands.- The Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gradually continues to issue licences for the Netherlands’ newly regulated igaming market. The latest operators to gain Dutch online gaming licences are Betca BV and Novamedia.

The new licences takes the total number of licensees in the Dutch market to 15 and the number of licences to 17 after Zebetting gained a licence last month. JOI Gaming has three licences. Only ten licensees launched when the Dutch igaming market went live on October 2 last year.

They were bet365, Tombola, Play North, the land-based casino operator Holland Casino, state lottery Nederlandse Loterij’s Toto Online brand, Janshen Hahnraths Group with FPO Nederland, Italy’s Betent, Belgium’s Bingoal, NSUS Malta, which runs GGPoker.eu, and LiveScore Malta.

The KSA has said that it intends to issue more licences. A number of major players are expected to gain licences following the end of the Netherlands’ cooling off period for those that were previously active in the unregulated market.

Alabama’s legislative committee has approved two bills that would allow casino gaming, sports betting and the creation of a state lottery.

The two gambling bills introduced by Alabama state senator Greg Albritton have been approved by a senate committee and will now move forward for debate. Senate Bill 293, a constitutional amendment, and Senate Bill 294, which has details on the proposed law, would create an Alabama state lottery and allow other gaming options.

They would also establish a Alabama Education Lottery and a Gambling Commission to supervise and regulate a state lottery, as well as allow casino-style games, sports betting, bingo, and raffles to be conducted subject to licensure by the commission.

The number of licensed casinos would be limited to five locations across the state. Two satellite casinos would offer a limited number of electronic gaming machines. The bill puts forward a 20 per cent tax rate on the net gambling revenues for casinos and sports betting.

Sports betting operator licences would allow an operator to host “one or more individually branded, Internet sports betting platforms”. The licence fee for internet sports wagering operators would be $100,000.

Sports betting licensees would be able to partner with managed services providers as long as that provider is also licensed by the Commission. The managed services provider licence would also have a $100,000 fee.

Casino gaming licensees would be allowed to offer slot machines, video lottery terminals, pari-mutuel wagering games, horse races, card games, dice games, roulette and bingo, among other games.

The bill was assigned to the state Committee on Tourism, which reported favourably after proposing two amendments. It will now move back to the Senate floor, where Senators will consider the amendments before voting on the bill itself.

Senator Albritton wants to see the legislation on the Senate calendar soon and expects the bills to move quickly through the Alabama Senate.

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Some senators see the gambling bill as unlikely to be addressed in 2022.

Brazil.- Although Brazil’s Gambling Regulatory Framework has already been approved by the Deputies and has made it to the Senate for treatment, it won’t e a priority for the Upper House and may not be addressed in what is an election year in Brazil.

The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco has said in a statement that the proposal will follow the normal procedures of the Chamber, but many parliamentarians say the project needs more discussion and will not make quick process in the Senate.

The project has been openly rejected by President Jair Bolsonaro but does not present a clear opposition vs. government scenario. Currently there is no consensus on the bill among Bolsonaro’s supporters, nor among critics of the current government.

The leader of the PSD in the Senate, Nelsinho Trad, stated: “The issue requires a broad and deep debate, and we will dedicate ourselves to studying the project within the PSD.”

Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS), who opposes the Bolsonaro government, said that the PT has not yet deliberated on the matter. He said: “I think it is very difficult. And I think if we vote this year, everyone will lose. This topic deserves more discussion.”

Senator Esperidião Amin, whose party makes up Bolsonaro’s base in parliament, said that he “does not see sympathy” with the proposal. He said: “I do not consider making this project a priority. So I haven’t even paod attention to it.”

Senator Izalci Lucas stated: “This is not the time to approve a project with this content. It is time to fight the pandemic, and to discuss the elections.”

Those who do have a position radically against the project are the members of the evangelical caucus, who are preparing to battle in the Senate when it’s time to deal with the bill. “The evangelical caucus is united around this,” a religious deputy told Gazeta do Povo.

PowerData conducted a survey of 3,000 people to gain an overview of the opinion of Brazilians on the proposal to regulate casinos, bingo, animal games and online games. The results were even, with 48 per cent were against the bill and 43 per cent in favour.
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