Industry News
Europe’s gambling culture is slowly fading away
Europe is often regarded as the cultural hotspot of the world. It is home to some of the world’s most celebrated artists, enchanting cities and phenomenons. Countries like France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom attract more tourists than any other part of the world. Naturally, such big numbers of international visitors travel long hours for a reason. These countries offer scenarios and landmarks that can not be seen elsewhere.
Over time, the cultural heritage and traditions well-hidden in the depth of the continent made it one of the richest corners of the world. Every period of its history is still reflected on old city walls and once nearly devastated cathedrals. This surely is what attracts so many people from all across the globe. Besides, Europe is the financial center of the world. With hundreds of millions of residents, some of the biggest corporations are headquartered in major financial hubs of Europe.
All of these factors led to the development of a powerful gambling industry which is widely acknowledged as one of the best globally. Cities like Monaco and Nice on the french riviera are modern meccas for gamblers from all around the world. Venues in such cities offer luxury services, sparkling environments and big chances of winning.
Despite Europe’s love for luxury, the continent is not lagging behind in any niche of gambling. The economical development of Eastern and Central Europe saw a rising number of capitals being turned into gambling heavens. Cities like Prague, Warsaw, and Kyiv are some of the top destinations for budget gamblers. They particularly attract crowds from western Europe, where casinos are more sophisticated and gambling, as well as other means of entertainment, is related to higher costs.
All in all, the continent of Europe has developed a well-established gambling culture in almost every nation. Players can find desired venues within any price range in European countries. However, the culture is slowly disappearing amid the spread of online gambling platforms. Recommendations and overall feedback from the community, especially the ones outlined in the Playamo casino review along with others clearly suggest that modern gambling enthusiasts are turning towards online casinos.
At first glance, it is difficult to understand why online gambling is gradually overtaking physical venues across the continent. The thing is that young people, as well as those with high incomes but limited time due to work now prefer more convenient options. For many, getting to the casino is too time-consuming and inefficient. Thus, an increasing number of people choose to enjoy their beloved activity from home.
Moreover, online casinos are popping up faster than physical ones. As a result, the competition between them is higher leading to better offers for customers. Bonuses and free spins are provided for new players by many online gambling platforms. Under such circumstances, it is obvious that many people choose to get online rather than pay a visit to their local casino.
This trend is also affecting the income of casinos, particularly in Eastern Europe. Monaco, London and other grand meccas of gambling will keep having enormous numbers of visitors unlike those located in Prague or Budapest. Their revenues are highly dependant on visitors from other European nations, as well as overseas travelers. As online gambling opportunities arise in almost all corners of the world, some less known venues in Europe are left without visitors.
Furthermore, there is a new wave of legislative changes across the continent that is having a major impact on the industry. Laws are being made stricter in some central and eastern European nations amid the global liberalization of the field. One example is the Czech Republic which recently tightened its rules on gambling. Country’s capital Prague remains a major gambling industry hub but its status in the future is uncertain.
Other countries like Belgium are also making legislation against gambling more comprehensive. None of the countries are banning casinos altogether, however, the added pressure caused by new laws is making maintenance and operation of physical venues more expensive than ever before. Amid such a crisis, online platforms are yet again taking the opportunity, spreading their services into new markets in Europe and beyond.
Despite the views about gambling, it undoubtedly is an important part of European culture. Far before Las Vegas would arise across the Atlantic in Nevada, Europe was already establishing its first formal gambling venues. After its beginning in the 17th century, the industry has become associated with many cities and towns in Europe. Some of them are solely dependant on revenues generated by casinos. Thus, the disappearance of Europe’s gambling culture can only be seen as a big loss for the continent.
Evoke, one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies with internationally renowned brands including William Hill, 888 and Mr Green, announced the establishment of a new Technology Committee of the Board effective immediately.
The Committee will be chaired by Independent Non-Executive Director Susan Standiford. Non-executive Directors Limor Ganot and Ori Shaked will also be members of the Committee.
The Committee will provide Board-level oversight of evoke’s major technology investments and initiatives, ensuring alignment with business strategy, risk management and operational effectiveness.
Jon Mendelsohn, Chairman of evoke, said: “In a world where technology is evolving at break-neck speed and in an industry where technology leadership is a core driver of sustainable success, our Technology Committee will play an important role in strengthening the Board’s governance and long-term strategy development. The Committee will focus on providing transparency and insight across our product, technology, data and operational initiatives as well as informing the Board and executive leadership on technology trends with the potential to shape the Group’s long-term competitive advantages.”
The post Evoke Announces the Establishment of a New Technology Committee appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions. With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word “jackpot,” and 19 even referenced a “hand pay.” Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.
The Missouri Gaming Commission has announced that it has officially begun accepting applications for sports betting license. The Commission made the announcement following the unanimous approval of a resolution drafted Tuesday that approved the licensing process. The resolution passed after Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office reviewed it. The licensing period opens roughly six months after Missouri voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment legalising sports betting. The measure passed by less than half a percentage point, with a margin of less than 7500 votes.
Underdog Fantasy has relaunched its draft-style daily fantasy sports (DFS) games in New York, nearly two months after it withdrew all of its DFS competitions from the Empire State. The decision to withdraw all DFS contests from New York in March came after a ruling from the New York State Gaming Commission in which the commission determined Underdog was not in line with the state’s current DFS law. An Underdog Fantasy spokesperson confirmed the company is still working under a temporary license. The New York State Gaming Commission agreed to allow the company to offer its draft DFS games with the temporary license. Most DFS companies in New York operate with a temporary license.
New Partnerships
Pollard Banknote Limited has congratulated the West Virginia Lottery on the successful launch of Royal Court Riches, its first eInstant game from the Pollard Digital Games Studio. Royal Court Riches has already demonstrated strong performance in multiple markets—in its first international launch, it achieved that jurisdiction’s highest tickets sold, total sales and gross gaming revenue within its first 30 days of release. Royal Court Riches is the first in a series of games from the Pollard Digital Games Studio slated to launch in West Virginia this year.
SYNOT Games has announced a new partnership with Caliente, one of Mexico’s top gaming platforms. This collaboration marks an exciting expansion for SYNOT Games, as it brings its acclaimed portfolio of gaming content to the Mexican market. It enhances Caliente’s offerings with an extensive array of high-quality slot games such as Respin Joker, Book of Secrets, Realm of Lions and Forest Maiden, designed to captivate players and boost engagement. Caliente with its strong presence in Latin America, is the perfect partner for SYNOT Games’ expansion into the region. The partnership aims to deliver an exceptional gaming experience, combining SYNOT’s visually rich, innovative games with Caliente’s extensive reach and reputation.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 19-25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025
Betsson Group has been nominated in 14 categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards 2025, hosted by Clever Duck Media. These include five company-wide nominations and nine individual nominations for eight of its employees.
These annual awards celebrate excellence in equality, diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing across the global gaming industry. Since its launch in 2010, the event has solidified its position as one of the global gaming industry’s most respected diversity accolades.
The categories in which Betsson Group and its employees have been shortlisted include:
Company Category Nominations:
Best Diverse Place to Work
Community Engagement
Company of the Year (Operator)
Diversity & Inclusion
Great Place to Work Award
Individual Category Nominations:
Affiliate Leader – Shakyra Jonsson
Employee of the Year (Operator) – Lisa Mifsud
Excellence in Customer Service – Gabriella Larsson
HR Champion (Operator) – Tamara Klibadze
Innovator – Lena Nordin
Inspiration of the Year (Operator) – Lena Nordin
Positive Role Model of the Year (Operator) – Lara Lombardi
Star of the Future (Operator) – Jessica Carrillo Miranda
Young Leader of the Year (Operator) – Chellyanne Cassar
These nominations reflect the company’s ongoing dedication to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed. At Betsson Group, diversity, equity and inclusion are more than buzzwords; they are embedded in the company’s culture, values and daily actions. In previous years, Betsson has been recognised at the WiG Diversity Awards for Best Diverse Place to Work (2022 and 2024), Company of the Year (2019 and 2022) and for Diversity & Inclusion (2021). For the individual categories, Betsson employees have previously won Excellence in Customer Service, Star of the Future and Young Leader of the Year.
The post Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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