Press Releases
New study highlights benefits of liberal sports betting regulation for sports integrity, consumer protection and tax revenues
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has today launched ‘The Availability of Sports Betting Products: An Economic and Integrity Analysis’ study. The study has been prepared by H2 Gambling Capital, the leading authority regarding market data and intelligence on the gambling industry.
It analyses the comparative impact of restrictive and liberal market regulation of sports betting products on consumer protection, regulatory oversight, taxable revenue, market and sports integrity. It draws on sports betting operator data, IBIA alert data, and H2’s own market data, and was developed in partnership with: Instituto Brasileiro de Jogo Responsável, Canadian Gaming Association, Netherlands Online Gambling Association, and Responsible Wagering Australia.
The study’s central finding is that there is a strong correlation between the wide availability of sports betting products and the proportion of consumers who place bets with onshore regulated sports betting operators (known as the channelling rate), thereby reducing the risk of exposure to sports betting related fraud on unlicenced markets.
It also highlights specific betting markets that have a disproportionate impact on the market and the onshore channelling rate due to their size and popularity. This includes football, which dominates sports betting globally, and tennis, which is particularly strong in Europe. Products like ‘in-play’, ‘side markets’ (e.g. cards and corners) and ‘prop’ betting also have a very significant impact on channelling.
New data challenges the assumption that these markets represent a heightened risk of match-fixing related fraud, while demonstrating that restricting their availability via regulated onshore operators significantly increases the number of consumers using riskier unlicensed offshore operators.
Khalid Ali, CEO IBIA, said: “Whilst politically attractive, this study confirms that bet restrictions are a blunt and counterproductive instrument. They don’t prevent betting, they just drive it into the unregulated market where most of the problems with sports integrity arise. The conclusions are clear: if you want to protect consumers and sports from corrupters, while maximising tax revenues, then allowing a wide range of sports betting products is essential.”
David Henwood, Director at H2, added: “We always fall back on the data. There is much conjecture that one of the main reasons customers use offshore betting sites is because they offer a broader range of product than available onshore. The study findings reinforce that point of view. Limiting the choice of onshore bet types – including live in-play – is basically counter-productive. Instead, markets most successful in limiting offshore play – evidenced by a channelling rate of 90% plus – are the ones that have generally opened their onshore provision to
a broad product choice. There is much that can be learnt herein in terms of best practice regulation.”
The study details the growing global popularity of sports betting. In 2024, global sports betting is forecast to be worth $94bn in gross win, and reach approximately $132bn by 2028, with over 70% ($93bn) online. Just under half (47%) of all online sports bets are forecast to be placed in-play (or live) in 2024, rising to 51% by 2028.
It also compares the success of different regulatory approaches to managing this growing demand. It finds that jurisdictions that allow a wide range of betting products, such as Great Britain (97%), have a much higher onshore consumer channelling rate than countries that restrict access to important betting markets, like Portugal (79%; restricts football and tennis), Australia (75%; prohibits online in-play) and Germany (60%; restricts football, tennis and in-play).
Beyond protecting consumers from match-fixing related fraud, these depressed onshore channelling rates are shown to have significant implications on tax revenue and market oversight. For instance, the study forecasts that:
· Australia would gain an additional $1bn in incremental tax revenues, and Germany an additional $400m, over the next five years if they permitted online in-play betting markets.
· Germany and Portugal are predicted to have a combined loss offshore of around $750m in taxable revenues due to restricted access to the main football betting markets between 2024-28.
· The Netherlands would experience a $118m uplift of tax revenue over the next five years if it liberalised access to football side markets (e.g. cards and corners).
· Portugal would benefit from an extra $122m in tax revenue over the next five years if it permitted availability of ITF tennis betting products to align with Italy and Spain.
The study’s findings are important for policymakers to consider as new jurisdictions – notably in North and South America – consider how best to regulate their online sports betting markets. In Brazil, for example, a regulatory framework with high product availability is expected to have $34bn in onshore sports betting turnover, providing $2.8bn in GGR, by 2028.
The experience of Ontario is also instructive. Having broken away from the Canadian monopoly model and introduced a licensing system in 2022, Ontario’s onshore sports betting channelisation is expected to reach 92% in 2024. In contrast, the rest of Canada combined is forecast to have a rate of around 11% and to lose $2bn in taxable revenues between 2024-28.
Gaming
Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK
Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.
To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.
What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?
NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.
What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?
NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!
What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?
ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.
Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?
ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!
Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.
How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?
ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!
What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?
STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.
As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?
STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.
How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?
STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.
The post Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024: Exclusive Insights with SWC Europe Cup Champions NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
DSWV further expands its network: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance become new partners
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) is pleased to announce the addition of two new partners as of December 2024: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance. With this step, the association is underlining its commitment to an innovative and future-oriented sports betting industry.
“We are very pleased that performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance have joined.”says DSWV President Mathias Dahms.
“Both companies ideally complement our partner network and offer our members valuable services. With their expertise, we can further strengthen the competitiveness of the German sports betting industry.”
Rainer Naranjo, Managing Director of performanceLiebe emphasizes: “We see the collaboration with the DSWV as a great opportunity to use our expertise in link building for the sports betting industry. Through targeted search engine optimization measures and the creation of relevant backlinks, we can help to increase the visibility of DSWV members.”
Christian Tsambikakis, Managing Director of Kerberos Compliance, adds: “Compliance with the complex money laundering regulations is of central importance for companies in the sports betting industry. We look forward to contributing our expertise to the cooperation with the DSWV and helping its members to meet their compliance requirements even more efficiently and reliably.”
performanceLiebe is the leading link building agency since 2009 with more than 200,000 link sources in over 50 countries, specializing in the sports betting industry. With innovative link building strategies, performanceLiebe ensures more traffic and higher rankings in the search engines.
Kerberos Compliance is a leading provider of compliance solutions that helps companies meet the complex requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the GDPR. With customized solutions and in-depth industry knowledge, Kerberos Compliance ensures maximum security and transparency.
The post DSWV further expands its network: performanceLiebe and Kerberos Compliance become new partners appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Nazara & Lysto sign LOI to launch “The Growth Protocol”
Nazara and Lysto have signed a Letter of Intent to launch The Growth Protocol, an L1 infrastructure layer, purpose-built for digital marketing and growth applications on the blockchain.
The Growth Protocol is a purpose-built L1 blockchain and a collaboration between Nazara Technologies FZ LLE, a 100% owned subsidiary of Nazara Techologies Limited that is India’s only publicly listed gaming company, and Lysto, the gaming world’s one-stop shop funded by leading VCs like Hashed, SquarePeg, Tiger Global, Distributed Global, Beenext, and prominent angels like Balaji Srinivasan, Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, Bobby Ong, and T.M. Lee.
Designed to revolutionize the digital marketing landscape, The Growth Protocol aims to bring greater transparency, equity, and monetary benefits to all participants in the Web3 marketing ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, the protocol empowers users through decentralization to take control of their digital identities and participate in decentralized, trustless interactions.
The Growth Protocol makes its public debut at India Blockchain Week, a significant event for the Web3 community globally. Alongside a private testnet launch, the team released a proof-of-concept loyalty dApp for game marketing, showcasing the practical application of Web3 technology in the gaming industry.
Speaking at IBW, Nitish Mittersain, CEO and Jt. MD of Nazara, shared his vision for innovations in the gaming sector and expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Nazara’s game marketing to the Web3 space. Speaking at India Blockchain Week, Nitish said, “We are very happy to innovate on new and upcoming technologies such as web3, VR & AI and look forward to integrating our games with releveant web3 technologies that can add value to our players.”
Sadiq Ahamed Shaik, CEO of Lysto, and Founder, The Growth Protocol, said, “The Growth Protocol is a platform for developers and all marketing roles. Our team is working with developers to launch a series of growth applications on the L1 blockchain, empowering users through decentralization for marketing and growth initiatives.”
The Growth Protocol team, composed of experienced professionals previously at Microsoft and Google, is actively engaging with Web3 developers, key opinion leaders, and marketing professionals at India Blockchain Week, fostering collaboration and innovation.
The Web3 community at IBW is invited to meet the team in person, join the test net launch, and participate in rewarding quests. For those who won’t be at IBW are welcome to connect with The Growth Protocol through their website and social channels on X or LinkedIn and more.”
The post Nazara & Lysto sign LOI to launch “The Growth Protocol” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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