Stakelogic has expanded UK presence with Hollywoodbets content deal
Stakelogic has signed a new content partnership with Hollywoodbets UK. The agreement will see Hollywoodbets offer Stakelogic’s full portfolio of slot games to its UK players. Hollywoodbets UK customers can now enjoy Stakelogic’s latest classic and video slots. Popular titles from the supplier’s expanding library are part of the deal.
The integration is being handled through Relax Gaming’s aggregation platform. This move supports Stakelogic’s strategy to grow in regulated European markets. The UK is now a key focus for the company in 2025.
Stakelogic recently signed a similar agreement with Starcasino in the Netherlands. That launch included branded live tables and slot content. The supplier continues to work with licensed operators across Europe and Latin America, distributing content through fully compliant platforms.
Neil Tanti, Head of Sales at Stakelogic, said: “We’re excited to partner with Hollywoodbets UK. This deal boosts our UK footprint and gives more players access to our premium slots.”
Don Barker, Head of Operations at Hollywoodbets UK, added: “Stakelogic brings an extra level of quality to our offering. Their innovative games will enhance our portfolio and player experience.”
Swedish government has proposed stricter credit ban on gambling
The Swedish Government is planning to introduce tougher laws to protect players from gambling-related debt. The new proposal aims to expand the current credit ban under Sweden’s Gambling Act.
At present, the law only prohibits the use of credit at the point of sale and applies solely to gambling operators and their agents. This limited scope means players can still use credit from third parties to gamble. The government now seeks to close that loophole.
Under the proposed changes, all use of credit for gambling—regardless of source—will be banned. Operators will also be prohibited from accepting payments via credit cards. If an operator knows a player is using borrowed money to gamble, they must refuse the bet.
In addition, operators will be required to discourage credit use through marketing. This applies both online and in physical locations.
The move is part of Sweden’s ongoing push to improve gambling safety and reduce harm. It follows a February appeal by the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), which urged the Ministry of Finance to tighten regulations under the Gambling Act.
Kansspelautoriteit has launched ‘Regulator 2.0’ to overhaul Dutch gambling oversight
The Dutch gambling authority, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), is adopting a fresh regulatory model dubbed ‘Regulator 2.0’. Speaking at the Gaming in Holland conference in Amsterdam, Renske Fikkers, head of the KSA’s regulatory department, outlined this new direction.
“We want to move away from being seen as an unreachable regulator focused only on fines. Our goal is to find creative solutions with the industry,” said Fikkers.
The regulator now communicates with operators directly by name and opens dialogue to address compliance challenges. Warnings to one company are now used as learning opportunities for others.
Licence renewals for Dutch online gambling operators are due in 2026. Fikkers made it clear: meeting past standards does not guarantee future approval.
“We expect to see Licence Holders 2.0 too,” he said. “We’re already talking to industry bodies about future challenges.”
The KSA will consider past conduct—both good and bad—when reviewing applications. Certain behaviours may impact the chance of renewal.
KSA is stepping up efforts to prevent gambling-related harm. It is developing an independent department dedicated to consumer protection. This includes boosting Loket Kansspel, launching new public awareness campaigns, and promoting the Cruks Register to block access for vulnerable users.
Government policy is shifting in response to concerns over addiction, debt, and underage gambling. There is growing political pressure to raise the minimum gambling age to 21, introduce deposit limits, and tighten advertising rules.
The collapse of the Dutch coalition government has left gambling reforms in flux. However, State Secretary Teun Struycken remains in post and continues to push for tougher rules.
Fikkers said continued breaches of advertising rules and operator misconduct are fuelling calls for stricter oversight. A total ban on advertising for high-risk gambling is now a real possibility.
“We want to avoid harsh restrictions—but your compliance is essential,” Fikkers concluded.
Pragmatic Play has expanded live casino offering with Bet99 in Ontario
Pragmatic Play has strengthened its partnership with Bet99, bringing more live casino games to players in Ontario.
Alongside the expanded game lineup, Bet99 is now using Pragmatic Play’s Smart Studio technology. This innovation allows multiple brands to share live casino tables. It offers operators more flexibility in customising their tables, while also cutting setup time and costs compared to dedicated studio builds.
Irina Cornides, COO at Pragmatic Play, said: “We’re pleased to deliver more premium live casino content to Bet99 in Ontario. With Smart Studio, our partners can unlock powerful localisation and branding options.”
Jared Beber, CEO of Bet99, added: “We now offer six Bet99-branded live tables, including Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat. We’re excited to expand our work with Pragmatic Play and look forward to more collaboration.”
Earlier, Pragmatic Play strengthened its footprint in the Netherlands by expanding its partnership with Starcasino.
Estonia plans to cut Remote Gambling Tax by 2028
Estonia’s ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas since 2023, has announced new fiscal reforms. A key focus is a major overhaul of gambling taxation, including a plan to gradually reduce the Remote Gambling Tax rate.
In 2023, the government raised the Remote Gambling Tax from 5% to 6% on net bets. That revision, aligned with EU standards, moved remote gambling under the Excise Duty Act. It also increased the Gambling Tournament Tax and Toto Tax, while Lottery Tax jumped from 18% to 22%.
Now, under a new agreement between the Reform Party and Eesti 200, the government intends to reverse course slightly. The proposal would lower the Remote Gambling Tax by 0.5% each year, reaching 4% by 2028. The aim is to support industry competitiveness while maintaining fiscal balance.
Changes are also planned for how gambling tax revenue is distributed. A new national fund will be set up to finance large-scale sports infrastructure, overseen by the Estonian Olympic Committee. Another fund will promote private co-financing of cultural and sporting projects. It will match corporate sponsorships with state support, allocating 20% of gambling tax revenue. Only tax-exempt non-profits will be eligible for this scheme.
The reforms also address gambling advertising. From 2024, Estonia banned celebrity endorsements, “risk-free” promotions, and marketing targeting minors. The TTJA (Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority) is now responsible for enforcement.
