The European Gaming Congress, an eagerly anticipated event in the iGaming industry, is set to make a big comeback after a three-year hiatus. This year’s edition will take place in Warsaw, the Polish capital, on October 30-31, 2023.

The organizers say that they anticipate the event “to be the industry’s most significant gathering”. The congress will bring together regulators, compliance experts, and top professionals from the gaming industry. The participants will be mainly from Europe but not only, professionals from other continents will also take part.

The European Gaming Congress has a solid history after having taken place for eight years. This time the panel discussions will be led by top players from the gaming industry, or, as the organizers put it, “some of the most influential figures.”

Compliance updates will be a big topic of discussion at the European Gaming Congress. Compliance experts and industry leaders will debate the latest changes in regulations that have taken place in Poland, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Greece, and the Scandinavian countries.

The event will also present a great networking opportunity for industry professionals, there should be quite a few new partnerships emerging following the meetings that will take place at the Warsaw congress. Moreover, with participants from various sectors, the event will be able to put together the gaming industry with blockchain, fintech and artificial intelligence experts.

The panel discussions will be a good chance for participants to find out the latest regulations and market trends. Moreover, the event will also benefit from the participation of C-level executives and government officials, people that have the latest information regarding the industry’s future.

Securing the Future

One of the most important panel discussions at the European Gaming Congress will be the one dedicated to cybersecurity, responsible gaming, artificial intelligence, and anti-money laundering in the gaming industry.

This panel discussion is expected to be “a comprehensive guide to a sustainable future of the iGaming industry.” The panel discussion will be moderated by Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder at HIPTHER, and it underlines the importance of a unified approach to creating a secure and ethical gaming world in a sustainable way.

Cybersecurity, one of the key aspects in this panel discussion, is regarded as “the backbone of the industry, while responsible gaming practices are very important to fostering a culture of healthy gaming.

Artificial Intelligence is becoming more and more important in the industry, while AML (Anti-Money Laundering) is also a key component of the online gambling world as it ensures the legitimacy of financial transactions.

Source: “A Unified Approach to the Future: European Gaming Congress Panel Explores Cybersecurity, Responsible Gaming, AI, and AML in the Gaming Industry“. European Gaming. October 17, 2023.

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PointsBet will return millions to its shareholders following the sale of its US business to Fanatics Betting and Gaming. This was confirmed during the company’s latest extraordinary general meeting.

PointsBet agreed to divest its US assets on June 30, selling its American operations of $225 million. The transaction is intended to take place over a multi-stage completion process and is still subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. If the deal is approved, PointsBet will receive $175 million at the initial completion and another $50 million at the subsequent completion. 

Following the sale of its US business, PointsBet plans to distribute the net proceeds to its shareholders, along with the majority of the company’s corporate cash reserves. PointsBet explained that the sale of its US assets would change its business, resulting in a surplus of reserves, thus enabling the move.

Following the sale of the US Business, the funding requirements of the Company’s remaining assets will be fundamentally different to the status quo.

PointsBet statement

According to PointsBet, the first capital return will see around $203.6 million (converted to USD from AUD) returned to the shareholders following the initial completion (expected to be completed by mid-September).

After that, a second capital return of between $80.8 million and $92.4 million will see money returned to the shareholders upon the subsequent completion (around March 2024).

The Deal Between Fanatics and PointsBet Was Mutually-Beneficial

In other news, PointsBet published its FY 2023 results, demonstrating a turnover of AUD 5.74 billion. The company attributed its stellar performance to the divestment of its US assets, which allowed it to focus on other lucrative initiatives.

Fanatics, on the other hand, will now be in the perfect position to challenge some of the mainstays of the US gambling market, including juggernauts such as FanDuel and DraftKings. Analysts believe that the acquisition will help Fanatics capitalize on the upcoming NFL season.

In the meantime, the transaction between PointsBet and Fanatics will also provide the latter company with a unique shot at New York’s gambling market. By acquiring PointsBet’s US business, Fanatics also hopes to secure an entry into one of the most promising US markets.

While regulators agreed that the company’s suitability to hold PointsBet’s NY license must be evaluated, the move is nevertheless a big opportunity for Fanatics to grow its US footprint.

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PokerStars, in collaboration with Poker Power, announced the return of the 2023 PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp, a unique event that helps grow the number of female players of the game by providing unique learning techniques and chances for growth. This year marks the second edition of the event, and it follows the success of its debut last year.

Now, PokerStars confirmed that the event, which is for beginners only, opened its recruitment window on June 22, 2023. The recruitment will go through July 22, 2023, and the successful female applicants will be able to engage in unique tutorials and benefit from insights from some of the best female poker players around the world.

The 2023 Poker Stars Women’s Bootcamp starts on July 31, 2023, and will run through September 28, 2023. During that time, applicants will be able to take their first steps into the world of poker and gradually accumulate skills and strategies that can help them be more resilient and patient.

Overall, the Bootcamp has eight modules that focus on different aspects of poker. Besides learning strategies and skills related to poker, the inclusivity event can also help women become more decisive and improve their negotiation skills outside of the game.

The Event Helps Women Enter the World of Poker

Participants in the event will be able to access and learn from Poker Power instructors as well as the Poker Power Play app. PokerStars ambassadors, including Jennifer Shahade and Lali Tournier, among others, will also play a key role by delivering unique tips and insights. Additionally, Bootcamp participants will be able to access PokerStars Learn resources 24/7 which can help them further improve their skills.

Putting learned strategies and knowledge into practice, women will play within the PokerStars Home Games. “The Bootcamp will lead to a crescendo tournament whereby a final table of recruits will win an all-expenses paid trip to EPT Cyprus this October to take part in the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown to compete further for a special package to EPT Prague this December,” explained PokerStars.

“PokerStars shares our passion and commitment for the future of women in poker, so we are thrilled to be returning with our joint Bootcamp this year.“

Erin Lydon, president of Poker Power

Erin Lydon, Poker Power’s president, explained that the company shares a passion with PokerStars to help more women enter the poker vertical. She said that it is thrilling to see the return of the unique Bootcamp event.

According to Lydon, this year’s event is expanded and will be able to reach more women. She pointed out that the Bootcamp will not only learn women how to play Texas Hold’em, but also teach them skills that can be used on a daily basis. Finally, Lydon said that she is looking forward to seeing more women grow within the poker sector thanks to skills from the Bootcamp.

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Calvin Ridley, an American football wide receiver, was suspended from the NFL for wagering on sports. The reformed player acknowledged his mistake and will now try to return to competing.

Ridley Wagered on Sports

Ridley was suspended after placing several mobile wagers in November 2021. It is known that Ridley placed around 10 bets and made a few parlay wagers. In total, the wide receiver wagered around $1,500.

Experts found out that in his playtime, Ridley had made parlays which included the Atlanta Falcons, which were his team at the time. Luckily for Ridley, investigators did not find any evidence of fraud or game information leak.

However professional NFL athletes are prohibited from betting as they might undermine the integrity of the league. Because of such concerns, Hard Rock contacted Genius Sports, the NFL’s sports data provider, and informed it that Ridley had bet. As a result, the player was reprimanded and suspended from competing professionally.

Ridley bet on his own volition, with his NFL coaches, teammates, competitors and staff being unaware of his wagering activity. According to a post he made on Twitter, the player does not suffer from problem gambling.

Ridley Began the Reinstatement Process

In November 2022, Ridley was acquired by the Jacksonville Jaguars despite still being suspended. The team believes that once the player will be a great option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence once he returns to competing professionally.

Ridley will now begin the process of returning to the league. As outlined in his suspension, Ridley became able to apply for reinstatement on February 15, 2023. The player applied for reinstatement as soon as possible and now hopes to return to the NFL.

Wagering Athletes Undermine the Integrity of Pro Sports

Athletes betting on sports are something that is widely regarded as problematic in professional competitions. Allowing professionals to wager may give them an unfair advantage over average bettors, compromising the fairness of sports betting.

In addition, wagering athletes may oftentimes be convinced to fix matches, thus undermining the integrity of professional sports as well.

Because of that, in 2022, UFC betting was temporarily banned in Ontario as the league did not follow some of the standards expected by the regulator. These concerns came amid a big betting scandal involving several professional UFC athletes and leading to the suspensions of a number of players. Soon after that, the UFC teamed up with US Integrity to improve its integrity controls.

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