This Week's Top iGaming News, June 9, 2023

This Week's Top iGaming News, June 9, 2023

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SiGMA Americas & BiS is Back

It’s that time of the year again when all eyes are on the Latam market because SiGMA Americas, in Association with the Brazilian iGaming Summit, is back. The illustrious event will be held in the Transamerica Expo Center, São Paulo, Brazil, on 14 – 18 June.

The popular annual showcase will see big names from all parts of the industry fly in to enjoy talks, dinners, and exhibits while making stronger network connections. Representatives from operators, affiliates, publishers and more, across all verticals, will be rubbing shoulders with notable people. The five-day extravaganza is expected to be hugely successful.

Rio State Lottery Grants First Online Sports Betting Licence.

It’s excellent news for Brazilians, and those involved in the Latam market, that the State Lottery of Rio de Janeiro (LOTERJ) published the first contract of the term of accreditation and authorisation for public lottery services. On a competitive basis, it will be exclusively by virtual means in the lottery modality of 'fixed odds sports betting related to real sports-themed events’. LOTERJ is the first state lottery to authorise sports betting through the Federal Government.

The contract is valid for five years between LOTERJ and Rede Loto. Access is virtual and will be available on mobile apps, the web, sports betting terminals, video lottery terminals or through points of sale. Players can bet at retail outlets, outposts, sports bars, and more. Some restrictions will be in place, but it opens the door to new possibilities in the growing market.

Macau Reaps Massive Rewards in May

Macau enjoyed one of its best months ever in May with a gambling revenue increase of 365.9% to MOP15.57 billion (€1.79 billion/£1.54 billion/$1.93 billion) from the same period last year, making it the best month yet for the gambling hub.

Relaxation of travel and flight restrictions post-Covid have helped a great deal. As well as that, the Macau government issued provisional gaming concessions to the six active operators in the region that provide land-based casinos. Although Genting was unsuccessful, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts, Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International, and SJM Resorts received a ten-year concession. The concessions, which began on 1 January and continued until 31 December 2032, should help further bolster Macau’s success.

Ghana and Malta Strengthen ties

To help improve the provision of the iGaming and gambling industry in emerging market Ghana, a delegation from the Gaming Commission of Ghana recently visited Malta Gaming Authority’s head office (MGA). Ghana delegates learned about the licensing procedures and how compliance could be upheld and criminality reduced.

Kobby Annan, Deputy Commissioner of the Gaming Commission of Ghana, said, “This visit has demonstrated the importance of engaging more with stakeholders and of adopting a more robust data collection process and a wider range of enforcement approaches and guidelines."

While Chief of Policy and International Affairs at MGA, Kinga Warda, stated, "Our collaboration with the Gaming Commission of Ghana signifies our commitment to promoting responsible gambling practices, regulatory excellence, and fostering a secure and transparent gaming environment."

VR Gaming Project from Land Vegas is Revealed

The Gaming Insights 2023 event in Santiago de Chile recently presented an exciting new device capable of taking you to the wonderful world of Land Vegas. The VR goggles promise to take the player to ‘an innovative metaverse under development, merging the thrilling world of online casinos, betting games, and entertainment all into one unique space accessible through virtual reality’.

Land Vegas is a virtual metaverse that combines physical and digital iGaming and gambling worlds. The immersive experience will allow players to play and explore physical casinos through virtual reality. The website states, ' Land Vegas is at the forefront of technology, blending the world of online casinos and betting games with virtual reality, offering unique and immersive experiences to players and creating business opportunities for its partners’.

Keep in the Loop

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