OKTO is excited to announce the expansion of its groundbreaking real-time cash-to-digital closed-loop payment service, OKTO.CASH, into the Indian market. This strategic move represents a significant step in OKTO’s mission to revolutionize payment experiences for both merchants and consumers around the globe.

Transforming Payment Experiences in India

With the launch of OKTO.CASH in India, online merchants can now offer cash-to-digital payments at hundreds of thousands of locations across the country, including in smaller cities. The service is already benefiting its first e-merchant, with many more expected to adopt it throughout the year. This expansion highlights OKTO’s commitment to providing seamless and efficient payment solutions tailored to the needs of the digital economy.

OKTO.CASH is now accessible through an extensive network of over 100,000 retail points, thanks to a collaboration with a pan-Indian network. The company has ambitious plans to increase this reach to more than 500,000 retail points by the end of the year, ensuring broad availability for consumers to complete their cash-to-digital transactions quickly and securely.

Dedicated Local Support

OKTO has established a locally dedicated team to support this expansion and provide the best possible service and assistance. This team is instrumental in ensuring merchants and consumers enjoy a superior payment experience.

Björn Katerbau, OKTO’s Chief Distribution Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to enhancing payment services. “This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering superior payment experiences at every transaction and in every region that requires such services. We are dedicated to empowering online merchants with enhanced payment service offerings, aligning with our strategy of being a last-mile expert and helping online merchants acquire new consumers.”

A Leader in Digital Payments

The introduction of OKTO.CASH in India reinforces OKTO’s position as a leader in the digital payment landscape. The service allows online merchants to offer a reliable and instantaneous payment option, meeting the diverse needs of consumers in the rapidly evolving digital economy. OKTO.CASH provides a seamless, real-time cash-to-digital conversion, making it a valuable tool for merchants and consumers.

This development is a testament to OKTO’s dedication to providing innovative payment solutions and its strategic vision of transforming payment experiences globally. By expanding its services into India, OKTO continues to drive forward its mission of delivering efficient and effective payment solutions that cater to the needs of a growing digital marketplace.

Source:

OKTO Expands Its Advanced OKTO.CASH Payment Service in India, oktopayments.com, June 25, 2024.

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Casino operators across the globe constantly strive to improve the conditions for their customers by rolling out different amenities. From comfortable chairs to the latest video slots and a wide range of table games, the competition among operators is fierce.

Currently, Macau is one major gambling hub for the Asian region and operators there also focus on ensuring exceptional entertainment for their guests. Now, according to a new study, the overall Gaming Service Index (GIS) across Macau for 2023, hit a new record. As announced by IAG, recently, the Macau Gaming Research Association (MGRA) released the results of its “Macau Gaming Service Index (GSI) 2023” survey, uncovering important details about the positive change within the gambling sector.

In 2013, when the first MGRA survey was released, the gambling sector in the country started from a base of 100 points. Ten years later, for the fourth quarter of 2023, Macau’s GSI was evaluated at 145 points. This result marked the highest-ever GSI recorded and represented an uptick of 7 points when compared to the Q4 2022 result of 138.

The second-best result ever recorded in terms of Macau’s GSI was 139, dating from Q2 2017. Overall, over the last decade, a rising trend was observed in Macau’s GSI, culminating with the latest result.

The Number of Players Boosts Casino Employee’s Performance

Besides the overall GSI for the gaming sector in Macau, the latest survey uncovered interesting insights regarding the sector. There were three main categories that were used for the assessment of gaming staff within the survey. Those categories included “smile,” “proactivity,” and “tolerance.”

When it comes to the smiling index, the latest survey revealed a result of 171, up when compared to the results from last year. Similarly, the proactivity index hit 172, marking once again an increase when compared to the results from the previous year. Last but not least, the tolerance index was 103, according to the latest study.

The newly released study made an important discovery, highlighting a connection between the recorded indexes and the number of players participating in a table game. According to the recent results, if there were between seven and nine gamblers participating in a game, the smile, proactivity and tolerance indexes were 1.13, 0.87 and 0.74. An increase to 1.24, 0.98 and 0.82 respectively was observed whenever there were more than nine players participating in a table game.

The collection of data for the new study was completed via mystery shopping surveys. A dozen casinos in Macau were evaluated for the latest GSI index.

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (AMCA) has issued a formal warning to Best Bookies’ Price over the latter company’s unlicensed wagering products. While not an operator in the traditional sense, Best Bookies’ had functionalities that placed bets on behalf of its customers.

Best Bookies is an online service that allows gamblers to compare betting odds across licensed betting operators in Australia. Thanks to this, customers can find the best betting offerings through a single account.

While Best Bookies is focused exclusively on licensed betting sites, the platform placed bets on behalf of its customers, which, according to the ACMA, constitutes a gambling service. The authority justified its claim with the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) which classifies such offerings as gambling.

Best Bookies Was Approved by Its State Regulator but Lacked a Gambling License

The Australian regulator released a statement on the matter, explaining the situation. The ACMA pointed out that Best Bookies had secured authorization from the relevant state-based regulator to offer its products. Despite that, the company lacked the necessary wagering license to offer products that are considered to constitute gambling under the IGA.

The ACMA reiterated its statement that the betting service offered by Best Bookies constituted a gambling service offered to Australian-based consumers, meaning that the product violates Australia’s laws.

These types of services must not be provided to customers physically present in Australia if the provider of the service does not hold a licensee (however described) under a law of a State or Territory that authorizes the provision of that kind of service in the State or Territory.

ACMA statement

Following ACMA’s warning, Best Bookies ceased offering the services in question.

The ACMA’s War on Illegal Gambling Continues

In the meantime, the ACMA continues to vigilantly protect the Australian market from unlicensed companies. The regulator has been periodically ordering internet service providers to block sites that have been trying to circumvent Australia’s gambling laws.

The latest ban wave saw the ACMA order the ban of Viperspin, Just Casino, Betandplay, Play Fina, and Comic Play Casino, which had been operating in breach of the IGA.

The previous months also saw the regulator crack down on illegal gambling operators, leading to the bans of multiple other websites.

In May, the ACMA appealed to Curaçao’s gambling regulator, asking it for help in the fight against Curaçao-based offshore operators that target the Australian gaming market. The move was in line with ACMA’s desire to explore regulatory collaboration with overseas gambling regulators – a topic that was discussed in depth by Tim Miller at the recent G2E convention.

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RealResponse and US Integrity have joined forces to unveil a revolutionary service exclusively designed for intercollegiate athletics, aimed at countering the rising tide of illegal gambling-linked activities. 

RealResponse and US Integrity Unite to Protect College Athletics Integrity

The collaboration between RealResponse and US Integrity has resulted in a seamlessly integrated service that offers a vital shield for not only the 100,000-plus student-athletes presently utilizing the RealResponse platform but also for the colleges and universities themselves. The service allows individuals to anonymously report incidents of insider information abuse, potential game manipulation, and even physical threats, thereby maintaining the fairness and integrity of competitions.

When a concern emerges related to sports betting, RealResponse’s clientele in the college athletics sphere will now have direct access to US Integrity’s investigative expertise through the RealResponse platform. Upon receipt of a report via the RealResponse platform, campus administrators can swiftly engage US Integrity’s collegiate response team, consisting of seasoned professionals skilled in monitoring wagers. These experts will assess, verify, and expedite the report’s submission to the appropriate authorities within minutes.

A Holistic Approach to Athlete Well-Being

What sets this service apart is its accessibility – existing RealResponse collegiate clients can avail themselves of this service without any additional cost, accessible through their internal portals. For institutions seeking a more personalized touch, there is an option to establish a branded external portal, enabling anyone from parents to friends and even competitors to flag gambling-related concerns.

David Chadwick, RealResponse’s founder and CEO, stated: “Gambling is a major concern on college campuses—not just for student-athletes—and the potential harm to a student’s mental health and physical well-being is great. This expanded partnership with US Integrity delivers instant support to student-athletes through a channel they already trust with sharing their most pressing needs and concerns.” 

US Integrity’s co-founder and CEO, Matthew Holt, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the paramount importance of safeguarding the well-being of student-athletes who are committed to both their athletic endeavors and educational pursuits. 

This initiative follows the launch of “Athlete Alert Powered by RealResponse” in May 2023, a national tip line enabling anonymous reporting of gambling-related issues. These efforts also follow recent gambling scandals at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University’s football program, while in June, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) revised its rules on the scope of punishments related to gambling violations.  

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With the ever-evolving landscape of regulatory requirements, businesses must increasingly rely on external tools to remain compliant with regulations and make informed decisions. VIXIO’s newest solution bolsters high-level decision-making, analyzing available data to improve planning efforts and highlight potentially hidden business opportunities.

The New Solution Answers Rising Market Challenges

VIXIO Regulatory Intelligence is a leading data provider for the gambling and payments industries, enabling businesses worldwide to navigate the increasingly complex modern regulatory challenges. The company’s forward-looking mindset drives it to constantly refine its platform and services to remain relevant despite rising global uncertainty.

The VIXIO Data Hub represents the company’s newest strategic planning and analysis portal. Live updates to relevant regulatory parameters will help partnering businesses remain compliant and better prepare for expansion into new jurisdictions. By consolidating relevant data into a user-friendly interface, the VIXIO Data Hub empowers companies with timely and accurate information critical to their strategic planning.

Global gambling companies can most benefit from this service, accessing over 400 data sets and 4 million data points from regulated markets. Proprietary forecasting tools allow users to generate accurate predictions, basing their growth strategies on up-to-date legislative or market developments. VIXIO’s team of leading analysts is also an expert at quickly identifying market trends, allowing operators to capitalize on potential opportunities before the competition.

Tightening Regulations Necessitate Enhanced Monitoring

Rapidly changing regulations can often catch operators unaware, resulting in potential breaches that can lead to significant fines and tarnish the company’s reputation. This problem is especially prevalent with companies operating in multiple jurisdictions, often sporting distinct regulatory challenges. Such a rapidly evolving landscape has caused many companies to seek third-party assistance, relying on professionals like VIXIO to track relevant changes and reveal new opportunities.

A recent GamblingNews interview with VIXIO senior gambling industry analyst Joe Ewens revealed the company’s stance on the upcoming UK white paper and the rising compliance burden on operators. He noted that such significant changes to a well-developed gaming market would undoubtedly cause local disturbances but were part of a worldwide push toward tightening regulations.

The reality is that all of the planned changes are just the latest developments in a story of tightening regulation over the past few years.

Joe Ewens, VIXIO senior gambling industry analyst

The VIXIO Data Hub’s launch marks an important milestone for regulatory intelligence solutions. Organizations can use this newest tool to ensure compliance and make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. The growing need for comprehensive data coverage and advanced analytics capabilities means more operators will gravitate towards such third-party solutions, enabling them to stay ahead of the curve and confidently achieve their objectives.

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Sports technology and media company DraftKings announced today the launch of the first free ad-supported TV (FAST) service on Samsung TV Plus, DraftKings Network.

Reaching New Audiences

The launch of DraftKings Network on Samsung TV Plus will see DraftKings expand further its presence in sports media, leveraging the reach of Samsung’s streaming TV and video-on-demand platform with its more than 250 live channels in the US and thousands of shows and movies streamed on demand to millions of Samsung Smart TVs, Samsung Galaxy devices, Family Hub appliances and on the web.

Takashi Nakano, senior director of business development and content acquisitions for Samsung Electronics, outlined that the collaboration with DraftKings will bring “a fresh and crisp look to modern-day sports news and entertainment programming… to users across millions of devices in the US.”

Whether it’s a lean-back experience on a Samsung Smart TV or a lean-forward experience on a Samsung Galaxy device on the go, we are excited to work with leading operators like DraftKings to serve today’s sports fan.

Takashi Nakano, senior director of business development and content acquisitions, Samsung Electronics

The first 24/7 FAST channel launched on Samsung’s platform features top talent and trusted personalities across sports media, creating a new destination for sports fans and bettors and providing them with engaging content so that they can experience the thrill of the action.

“In bringing together some of the most authentic sports and entertainment voices under one umbrella, DraftKings Network is the destination for ‘In on the Action’ sports fans and content they love,” commented Stacie McCollum, vice president of content at DraftKings.

Beginning with Original Shows

At launch, the DraftKings Network programming line-up will feature original shows such as The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Ross Tucker’s Football podcast, national baseball voice, Jared Carrabis, Golic and Smetty with Mike Golic Sr. and Jessica Smetana, GoJo featuring Mike Golic Jr., as well as select VSiN programmings like Follow the Money with Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard.

From May 10, Journeyman, the first of two new shows produced by Meadowlark Media will debut on DraftKings Network, featuring former NFL player Andrew Hawkins. The show will present a comedic take on life, sports and culture through the lens of NFL journeymen.

The second show will debut on June 1 and will feature NBA analyst Amin El Hassan and sports personality Charlotte Wilder, who together with their guests, will present the audience with daily basketball takes, including opinions, interviews, games and hi-jinks.

DraftKings Network is available across all 2016-2023 Samsung Smart TVs, Samsung Galaxy devices, and Samsung Family Hub refrigerators free and without the need for a subscription or login, as a video stream on DraftKingsNetwork.com, and in audio and video formats on platforms such as iHeart Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Twitch.

The new linear channel will feature a scrolling ticket at the bottom of the screen keeping viewers informed on the latest scores and odds, while a QR code will direct users to tailored DraftKings Network offers.

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