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Europe’s gambling culture is slowly fading away

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Kutt Secures $1 Million+ in Funding and Surpasses 10,000 Users

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Kutt, the leading social betting platform, announced that it closed the first quarter of 2024 with a successful fundraise of over $1 million and that it has surpassed the 10,000 user mark. The company also commissioned a study of 1000 bettors that clearly defines what social betting is and what users want — further cementing its ownership of the space.

“Betting has been a social activity for thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that consumers want the ability to facilitate and track wagers against their friends. If anything, bettors unquestionably prefer a more curated, social experience — they want to be part of a wider community and to be part of the conversation around sports, entertainment, and important events,” Sim Harmon, CEO and founder of Kutt, said.

While sports betting has boomed across the country since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, established gambling companies have largely stuck to the tried-and-true format sportsbooks have been using for decades — traditional sports bets against the house. But consumer desire to experience more has increased as the betting industry has matured, with 82% of bettors interested in wagering directly against their friends and other individuals through a decentralized platform, according to Kutt’s recently commissioned survey.

The survey found that, in addition to Kutt’s traditional offerings, an overwhelming majority of bettors (80%) are interested in wagering on non-sporting events, with 77% wanting to bet on entertainment, 62% interested in wagering on politics, and 60% with a desire to bet on life events. Kutt allows users to wager with friends on any event with publicly verifiable results, making it the ultimate “put your money where your mouth is” destination for fans. The survey also shed light on some compelling aspects and trends among current bettors, including:

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  • A higher percentage of bettors surveyed placed a wager with a friend in the past year (61%) vs. a sportsbook (60%)
  • More than half of U.S. bettors (54%) have betting group chats with friends
  • A majority of U.S. bettors (60%) text their friends about the progress of a bet while watching a game.

Adding further validity to the findings of the survey and the demand for a real-money social betting experience is Kutt’s recent $1 million+ institutional fundraise, led by Lightning Capital, a firm that invests in digital assets and online communities. The investment will fuel initiatives aimed at growing the Kutt community, enhancing user experiences, and expanding betting markets.

“We look for emerging companies in high-growth industries to invest in. Kutt’s enthusiastic user base, rapidly growing partnership portfolio, and their differentiated product offering were very attractive to us. We are eager to help them continue to define and own the social betting space,” Jock Percy, General Partner at Lightning Capital, said.

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Trustly Announces Major Move to Guarantee Growth for Businesses Across Europe

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Trustly announced a bold pledge to boost growth for businesses across Europe. In a major move to revolutionise the checkout experience for millions of people, the payments tech firm unveils the new Trustly Growth Guarantee.

The market-leading account-to-account provider is offering clients – current and new – a fresh way to pay at the checkout. As part of this, businesses are guaranteed to see an increase in conversion rates, to as high as 98.8%, and a clear reduction in the fees they pay in comparison with traditional payment methods.

Customers will enjoy fewer steps to pay and the added efficiency of return user recognition; Trustly guarantees supercharged success at the checkout. With predictable pricing, costs will be just one amount per transaction – with no variable fees at all. Trustly also states that it is dedicated to providing a seamless integration and will include Success Concierge as standard.

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The initiative, revealed only a matter of days after impressive 2023 growth results were announced for the global leader in the industry, reflects Trustly’s unwavering confidence and commitment to continuing to innovate account-to-account payments. Last week, Trustly announced a 79% increase YoY in annual transaction value – reaching $58 billion in total.

Its track record for already attracting major global clients – some examples being Meta, eBay, HMRC, Zalando and Hargreaves Lansdown – signifies that there’s been a distinct change in customer preference and merchants priorities.

Businesses are making attempts to remain innovative and ahead of the curve as millions of consumers increasingly adopt open banking-enabled account-to-account solutions instead of other more standard options when they pay.

Jussi Lindberg, Chief Revenue Officer of Trustly Europe, said: “Our market-leading payment setup embodies Trustly’s mission: to be a growth partner for our clients. We don’t just provide payment solutions; we drive efficiency and value in their businesses. Trustly Azura has delivered remarkable results, and now businesses can experience its benefits. Account-to-account payments are booming, and we’re here to help businesses seize the opportunities it offers.”

If merchants do not see a boost in conversion or a drop in payment costs – at a processing rate of at least 50K transactions each month, for three months, Trustly will reimburse three months’ worth of processing fees. The guarantee is available for both new and existing European customers and is subject to Trustly’s general terms & conditions.

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The post Trustly Announces Major Move to Guarantee Growth for Businesses Across Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Wazdan set to gain more ground at Casino Beats Summit Malta

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Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences is set to make the most of the networking and relationship-building opportunities at Casino Beats Summit 2024 and share its groundbreaking Online gaining™ approach.

Leading a formidable team of Wazdan talent will be Chief Commercial Officer Andrzej Hyla. Joining him in Malta is Promo Tools Specialist Marcin Trafiałek, who has been nominated for the prestigious Product Manager of the Year award at the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards 2024.

Trafiałek’s nomination recognises his pivotal role in the triumphant success of the Mystery Drop™ promo tool. Additional representatives from Wazdan’s Account Management and Marketing departments will also be on hand, eager to connect and share the latest Wazdan innovations.

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Wazdan’s commitment to excellence is further underscored by its multiple nominations at the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards 2024. The company’s exciting new titles and features are vying for top honours in various categories, including:

  • Slot to Watch: 25 Coins™
  • Game Mechanic of the Year: Coins™ series
  • Game Feature of the Year: Coins™ series
  • Game Music/Soundtrack: Book of Faith™
  • Game Music/Soundtrack: Los Muertos™ II
  • Game Retro-Style: Mighty Symbols™: Crowns

As a proud sponsor of CasinoBeats Summit 2024, Wazdan reaffirms its dedication to fostering a vibrant iGaming community and actively participating in industry-shaping events. The company looks forward to setting a course for success and collaboration at the summit.

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan said: “Casino Beats Summits are always fantastic events. This year sees us in the enviable position of being shortlisted for six awards which reflects the hard work our team of engineers and inventors have put into the experiences that add value for demanding players.

“We’re looking forward to meeting friends old and new at the event and sharing how we gain ground and ground gain.”

The post Wazdan set to gain more ground at Casino Beats Summit Malta appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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