This Week's Top iGaming News, May 5, 2023

Every week we scour the world for interesting news and read-worthy gossip to share with our readers. Get your fill of the latest right here.

Positive Steps for iGaming Changes in India

The government of India has recently set out regulatory rules for online gambling. The Ministry of Electronics and IT published changes to its Information Technology Rules (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) in regard to online gambling. The new changes state that any online games must not violate existing gambling laws.

The sector would be overseen by various self-regulatory bodies. These bodies will be made up of iGaming businesses, and those from sports and entertainment, that would be responsible for creating online gambling rules. The rules state that an online game is defined as a game played via the internet by a player with the expectation of winning earnings.

What’s Hot in the World of Casino Slots

Issue 133 of iGB magazine, recently shared the December 2022 video slot charts. The usual big names were high up the board, so it should come as no surprise that Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Play’n GO, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming are among the big brands. The unusual timing of the 2022 World Cup meant platforms had less time than usual to gear up any festive themes while football was still a big draw.

Pragmatic Play is still a dominating presence, with roughly 50% of end-of-year spots taken by one of their titles. These big-name games will be instantly recognised by most players and those in the industry.

The top ten slots were;

1. Starburst (NetEnt)
2. Book of Dead (Play’n GO)
3. Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)
4. Big Bass Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)
5. Big Bass Splash (Pragmatic Play)
6. Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play)
7. Legacy of Dead (Play’n GO)
8. Gonzo’s Quest Megaways™ (Red Tiger)
9. The Dog House Megaways™ (Pragmatic Play)
10. Bigger Bass Blizzard Christmas Catch (Pragmatic Play)

Brazilian Women Betting More on Sports, Thanks to Women’s Football

The last five years or so have seen steady growth in the interest in women’s football and associated betting worldwide. The Women’s World Cup 2022 cemented the deal. Since then, match attendance has been rapidly growing, broadcasts increasing, and sponsorship and partnership deals are rising.

Data shows that the number of bets on the women’s championships rose by a huge 139% in 2022 compared to 2021. Some operators even began seeing triple the amount of bets placed on women’s matches compared to the previous year. With more and more women’s matches becoming available to watch online, this sector can only grow.

Brazilian iGaming Update

Regulatory changes are still in a state of flux in Brazil as the country goes through the process of regulating sports betting. Bookmakers will face a 15% tax on net income. The 2018 law states that 1.67% of the GRR must be paid to Brazilian sports entities with other amounts going towards sectors such as education and the National Public Security Fund (FNSP). It is yet to be decided how the resources will be shared between clubs, with no quick answer on hand. Debates are set to continue for some time yet.

Deputy Jorge Goetten (PL/SC) took part in a public debate to discuss the regulation of sports betting. The meeting, held at the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, included representatives from operators, sports betting, bettors, parliamentarians, and the Ministry of Finance. During the hearing, the Santa Catarina deputy showed support for the changes and stated that “Gambling is everywhere: online, casino, bingos. We are only going to bring to legality what is already practiced without any rules. We are going to create jobs in the sector.”

Sportradar & FERJ Partner Up

The Football Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FERJ) has announced a partnership with Sportradar Integrity Services, a unit of Sportradar. Sportradar Integrity Services provides global sports integrity solutions and partners with over 180 sports leagues, federations, and organisations including NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, UEFA, FIFA, Bundesliga, ICC and ITF.

The agreement implements the Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) and covers the Championship matches of Series A2, B1, B2 and C, and Copa Rio, as well as the Sub-20 competitions in addition to the Carioca Women’s Adult Championship. In total, roughly 650 games. FERJ works to ensure fairness and integrity in sports and their growing partnerships will forge a fairer Brazil for all sports enthusiasts.

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