Central Europe
German Media Body Vaunet Calls for Advertising Regulatory Rethink
Vaunet, the association of private media businesses in Germany, has called on state lawmakers to remove advertising restrictions set to impact broadcasters in the new gambling regulatory framework currently under discussion.
It believes the restrictions, such as daily periods where advertising is not permitted and the wording of certain elements of the draft document contravene the core goal of channeling players to legal offerings.
“Advertising underpins private broadcasters’ businesses, and acts as an instrument to steer players towards legal offerings in the gaming market, a key regulatory goal of the federal states,” Matthias Kirschenhofer, chair of Vaunet’s internal betting working group, said.
Kirschenhofer said the new regulations, in theory, should allow broadcasters to tap into new revenue streams, at a time when ad spend from other sources was stagnating, though the planned advertising restrictions could effectively shut this off.
“[The advertising controls] will ultimately prevent investments in attractive content. We therefore appeal to the federal states to make further improvements here,” he added.
Vaunet took issue with the provisions that prohibit the advertising of online slots, casino and poker between 6 AM and 9 PM on radio and television, as well as the whistle to whistle ban on sportsbook advertising.
These would put broadcasters – already facing a stagnating advertising market – at a significant disadvantage to other media and advertising channels, where no such limitation applies, it claimed. If such a prohibition is to be maintained, Vaunet argued, internet portals should be subject to the same controls.
“Radio and television stations are fully aware of their responsibilities under the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty. Especially in a regulated broadcasting environment, the promotion of regulated gambling should not be prohibited,” Vaunet said.
This tenet was unclear, it added, as it did not confirm whether sportsbook operators would be prevented from advertising its online casino products during times where betting promotions were not allowed.
The prohibition of any connection between sports betting advertising and the publication of live scores for sporting events amounted to an effective sportsbook advertising ban on all media portals, it added.
Vaunet concluded that the regulations in their current form would not be effective in guiding gamblers to regulated offerings.
“In order for legal providers to prevail against illegal sites, they must be able to provide competitive offers and advertise them adequately,” Vaunet said.
Euro Games Technology will partner with the Casino Operations Summit for another year in a row. The Bulgarian gaming equipment manufacturer will be a gold sponsor of this year’s event, taking place from May 13 to 15 in Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
The conference is tailored to European multi-channel casino operators and will traditionally bring together keynote speakers who will elaborate on the latest topics in the industry. This year’s main themes will focus on how land-based casinos can successfully address the challenges of the modern world, remaininng relevant and attractive to players, and navigate the ever-growing importance of Casino Online Systems and Casino Management Systems.
In addition, attendees will be able to enjoy a selection of EGT’s newest high-potential products. Among the highlights will be the S 32-32 ST cabinet, which is part of the latest Supreme slot series. Following the contemporary design trends with its 2 high-resolution 32-inch UHD 4K monitors and a frameless UHD 4K display, this model will offer visitors an engaging gaming experience thanks to its numerous ergonomic features. It will also present the Supreme Red Selection and Supreme Bonus Prize Bonus Buy Selection multigames. The mixes offer a rich variety of well-known and brand-new slot titles from the company’s portfolio, allowing everyone to find their preferred type of game.
The slot display will be complemented by the jackpot top performer Bell Link with the multigame Bell Link 2, Bell Link Boost, as well as the popular cabinet G 50 J2 ST.
The post EGT will be a gold sponsor of Casino Operations Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ani Mkrtchyan, Digitain’s Chief Sales Officer, commented: “We are excited to expand the partnership with Gamingtec and support Betters.pl in delivering an outstanding sports betting experience in Poland. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to expanding in regulated markets and is yet another example of how we partner with industry leaders in gaming excellence—perfectly reflecting Digitain’s new brand slogan: ‘BUILT TO LEAD.’”
The post Digitain Partners with Gamingtec to Expand Presence in Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Leading sportsbook technology provider grows European footprint with major local operator
Altenar, a leading sports betting and iGaming software provider, has signed an agreement to provide its fully-managed sportsbook solution to Czech operator MerkurXtip.
The Merkur brand, formerly known as the Gauselmann Group, was founded in the 1970s. Its Czech online brand MerkurXtip CZ launched in 2022 and provides more than 200 slots and sports betting across a wide variety of sporting events..
Altenar’s sportsbook solution will replace the existing sportsbook product on the operator’s merkurxtip.cz website, providing a range of innovative features to elevate the betting experience for players, enhance retention rates and increase revenue.
The agreement strengthens Altenar’s position in the Czech market, where it secured its first deal in 2024. It has enjoyed successful ongoing partnerships with Kingsbet CZ and DATA.BET.
Sam Hill, Sales Director at Altenar, said: “The Merkur Group is a fantastic business with real heritage across the industry.
“To be trusted to take their brand forward in the Czech market is testament to the quality of product and service that Altenar provides today across numerous regulated markets. We can’t wait to get started and look forward to the development of our partnership with the Group.”
Stanislav Sopko, CEO of MerkurXtip CZ, said: “This collaboration marks the start of a promising journey together. Through this partnership, we aim to provide MerkurXtip’s customers with exceptional sports betting products from Altenar and deliver the best-in-class gaming experience in the market.
“We will combine our strengths and expertise to create new opportunities, improve offerings, and drive forward innovation. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting venture together. We look forward to achieving great things in the months and years ahead.”
The post Altenar delivers sportsbook solution to MerkurXtip in Czech market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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