Evoplay has partnered with Fortuna Entertainment Group to enter Czech market
Evoplay has taken a major step in its European expansion by partnering with Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG) to launch its gaming content in the Czech Republic. This collaboration marks Evoplay’s first entry into the Czech market, bringing 39 of its popular titles to Czech players through the Fortuna platform.
This move is part of Evoplay’s growth strategy for 2024, a year that has seen the company strengthen its presence across Europe. Earlier this year, Evoplay appointed a new Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) to lead this expansion. The campaign began with a partnership with Betsafe in Lithuania in April, followed by a venture into the Georgian market through Europebet in May. In June, the company further expanded into Bulgaria and Hungary, working with Sesame and Vegas.hu, respectively.
Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “Entering the Czech market with Fortuna as our exclusive partner highlights our commitment to regulated markets. We’re thrilled to introduce Czech players to our diverse content and believe this collaboration will drive significant results.”
FEG Group’s Head of Commercial Gaming Operations, Myke Foster, added: “This alliance allows us to provide top-tier entertainment and quality gaming experiences to all FEG customers. Evoplay’s extensive content portfolio resonates with players worldwide, and we’re excited to be the first to offer their games in the Czech Republic. We’re looking forward to heightened engagement with our local audience.”
Rio state lottery moves to block list of approved online gambling operators in Brazil
Brazil’s regulated online gambling launch, set for January 1, faces last-minute challenges, with legislative actions and lawsuits threatening to stall an already delayed process. The new gambling regulator, SPA, is processing licence applications to meet the launch deadline, but pushback continues.
The Rio de Janeiro state lottery, Loterj, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to annul the list of approved operators compiled by SPA. Loterj contends that the approval process for around 100 operators is flawed, asserting that operators must first pay the BRL 30m licence fee and undergo a public bidding process supervised by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) before they can be considered legitimate. The SPA had previously set an October 1 deadline for grey-market operators to apply if they wished to remain active.
Loterj argues that the current process grants operators an unfair market advantage and contends that its own licensed operators should be recognised as regulated until the year’s end. Additionally, Loterj recently sought a preliminary injunction to prevent limitations on its licensees’ operations beyond Rio de Janeiro’s borders. However, the federal government maintains that Loterj’s licensees lack the necessary federal licence to operate outside state lines.
Earlier, Brazil’s National Association of Games and Lotteries and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming urged their members to implement a ban on credit card gambling ahead of the official launch of the regulated market.
GamCare urges banks to spot and support customers affected by gambling
GamCare is driving new initiatives to help UK banks protect customers from gambling-related financial harm. Following insights from a recent workshop with the financial services sector, GamCare is presenting fresh strategies to identify at-risk customers and provide timely support.
The workshop, part of GamCare’s Gambling Related Financial Harm project launched in 2019, brought together over 70 participants from leading banks and charities. This project has aimed to close gaps between financial institutions, debt advisors, and gambling support services to better support people facing gambling-related issues.
GamCare’s latest session underscored the preventive role banks can play by using transactional data to flag high-risk behaviours. Patterns such as high gambling spend relative to income, surges in gambling activity around payday, or frequent late-night transactions could indicate a need for support. By identifying these signs early, banks can reach out to affected customers and guide them to third-party resources, including the National Gambling Helpline, Gamstop, or gambling-blocking software like Gamban.
Raminta Diliso, GamCare’s Financial Harm Manager, said: “Last year, 72% of callers to the National Gambling Helpline reported financial difficulties. Banks are in a unique position to detect unaffordable gambling patterns and to offer targeted support.”
GamCare hopes that more UK financial services will adopt proactive strategies to support customers experiencing gambling-related financial struggles.
Graeme Cunning, Santander’s Vulnerable Customers Strategy Manager, noted: “While the responsibility doesn’t lie with the bank alone, we believe we have a role in helping prevent gambling harm. At Santander, we’ve implemented interventions like letters and text messages to direct at-risk customers to the right support channels at critical moments.”
